Industry 5.0: Life-Cycle mapping of sustainable technologies using BERTopic-Driven patent analytics

Sustainable technologies are critical to Industry 5.0—owing to the carbon-neutrality and digital-transformation transitions. To systematically identify and evaluate key sustainable technologies, this research performed an extensive investigation of 11,253 patent documents spanning the period 2011–2025. It tackled the shortcomings of previous topic-modeling approaches and the limited incorporation of life-cycle prediction in previous research. It combined the BERTopic model with the logistic growth model—enhancing topic interpretability and enabling the dynamic assessment of technological trajectories—and thus established an integrated analytical framework. The results revealed nine core technologies that drive sustainability in Industry 5.0. Technologies that have already entered the saturation stage include wireless communications (Topic 1), smart terminals and wearables (Topic 2), human–computer interaction and data intelligence (Topic 5), advanced materials and metallurgical processing (Topic 6), optical communication and modular systems (Topic 7), and acoustic sensing and smart audio (Topic 8). In addition, computer vision (Topic 0) and energy storage and wireless power transfer (Topic 4) are projected to reach the saturation stage within the next three years. Among all the technologies analyzed, additive manufacturing (Topic 3) remains at a high-growth stage, suggesting considerable potential for further development and application. This study contributes to a better understanding of the sustainable innovation landscape of Industry 5.0 and offers specific policy implications for industry stakeholders and governments.