Industry 5.0 as seen through its academic literature: an investigation using co-word analysis

Abstract Industry 5.0 marks a pivotal advancement in manufacturing and bridges cutting-edge technology with human creativity to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and workplace dynamics. Despite its growing relevance, there remains a significant knowledge gap due to the lack of comprehensive reviews that synthesize the breadth of research and practice in this rapidly evolving field. This paper presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of Industry 5.0 and examines a corpus of 915 journal articles from the Scopus database, spanning from January 2016 to May 2024. The study aims to map the evolving landscape and thematic trajectories of Industry 5.0, highlighting its integration with advanced technologies such as AI, IoT, and human-centric systems. The findings indicate significant trends in the field, including a shift from theoretical underpinnings to practical applications and the growing emphasis on sustainability and human–machine collaboration. These thematic areas highlight the transformative potential of Industry 5.0 to enhance operational efficiency, workplace dynamics, and environmental sustainability within the industrial sector. By employing bibliometric and co-word analysis, this study addresses existing knowledge gaps and provides a nuanced understanding of the interdisciplinary interactions and future directions in Industry 5.0. The findings reveal the critical role of emerging technologies in driving the next industrial revolution, suggesting that future research should focus on integrating these technologies with socio-economic objectives to fully realize the potential of Industry 5.0. In terms of originality, this study sets a foundation for future explorations and practical implementations that can contribute to more sustainable, efficient, and human-centric industrial practices.