New insights into the diffusion of I4.0 in the Brazilian Steel Industry

This article seeks to enrich the literature on innovation and the transformation of productive structures by exploring Industry 4.0 technologies and their applications and implications for the Brazilian steel industry. Through a comparative analysis of surveys conducted with the same companies in 2018 and 2021, the study tracks the evolution of I4.0 technology diffusion within Brazilian steel firms. The findings reveal that while the rate of diffusion of technological clusters in this sector has been relatively slow and has had limited impacts on the steel innovation system, the financial outcomes have been notably positive. Consequently, these innovations serve as effective tools for enhancing the existing productive structure in terms of availability and financial returns rather than revolutionizing it.