Building a Human-Centred Infrastructure for Sustainable Industry 5.0 in Asia

As technology continues to reshape industries, the shift from Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0 brings a new focus: putting people back at the center of innovation. While Industry 4.0 introduced powerful tools like artificial intelligence, automation, and big data to improve efficiency and productivity, it also raised concerns about job displacement, complex integration, and data security. Industry 5.0 builds on these advances, but with a stronger emphasis on collaboration between humans and machines. It promotes systems that are not only smart but also supportive of human creativity, safety, and sustainability. This paper explores how Industry 5.0 can address the key challenges left behind by Industry 4.0. It looks at new solutions such as personalized manufacturing, predictive maintenance, and the use of collaborative robots (COBOTs), which are designed to work alongside people—not replace them. By examining these developments, especially in the context of rapidly changing economies like those in the Asia–Pacific region, this research aims to offer insights into creating a future where innovation benefits both industry and society as a whole.

Photovoltaic (PV) glasses are a pioneering step to future sustainable infrastructure meeting the demands of SDG 11- Sustainable Cities & Communities. These smart glasses use solar energy, while allowing natural light to enter buildings, which saves energy and improves urban livability. Uniting the concepts of human-centered infrastructure, PV glasses will allow smart buildings to easily integrate renewable energy sources which are in line with the 5th Industrial revolution’s vision of intelligent, sustainable and connected systems. Strong regulatory and policy frameworks are needed to achieve the full potential of PV glasses. Standards on material safety, energy efficiency, and environmental compliance must be put in place. Incentives like tax breaks, subsidies and R&D funding can facilitate adoption. Therefore, the deployment of RE technologies such as PV glasses in new constructions and retrofitting projects should be mandated and made obligatory through urban planning policies. International cooperation is also vital, enabling knowledge sharing and alignment of global standards. Regulatory frameworks that support solar PV glasses in Industry 5.0 by uniting technology, sustainability, and human-centric design can bring a revolution in the urban landscape. Encouraging not just the environment, but also social equity and economic resilience that lead to smarter, greener cities focusing on people and planet.

Industry 5.0 represents a critical milestone in the evolution of industries, transitioning from a domain governed by the mechanisms of automation and efficiency to a society that focuses on serving people through the partnership of people and intelligent systems. This chapter explores the critical dimensions of workforce empowerment of Industrial 5.0 as these skills, training, and human-centric transformation are changing work. With the adoption of technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and the Internet of Things (IoT), workers’ roles are becoming high-level problem-solving, strategic decision-making, and creative problem-solving, along with working with machines to create synergistic collaboration. For this transition to occur, workforce development strategies must rise to the challenge of transforming workers into those capable of operating in a human-cyber collaborative ecosystem. The chapter addresses the uniqueness of Industry 5.0 compared to Industry 4.0 by signaling its importance in sustainability, personalization, and inclusivity. It investigates the skills gaps in this transformation, paying special attention to the increased significance of soft skills, interdisciplinary knowledge, and adaptability. It studies existing workforce readiness and highlights barriers that should be addressed to ensure alignment with Industry 5.0 requirements. The chapter identifies real gaps to be filled through skills development, focusing on reskilling, upskilling, and the need for lifelong learning. They also focus on how tools like Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and AI-driven personalized learning can be integrated. Successful training models, and partnerships between industry and education systems, highlight the importance of collaborative approaches. In addition, the potential of government policies to help facilitate equitable access to training and overcome infrastructure hurdles is examined. The chapter also examines the ethical and humanized aspects of workforce development and argues for inclusive training programs that promote gender parity, age diversity, and regional balance. It emphasizes the need to cultivate a culture of collaboration between humans and intelligent systems, dealing with psychological resistance to change, and guaranteeing worker well-being in the face of technological upheavals. The chapter examines some of the fast trends in workforce empowerment—the hybridization of job roles and the types of future technology that will impact education and labor markets. By presenting a holistic framework for skill development and workforce training to emphasize that human empowerment is a critical resource that determines the sustainability of innovation and inclusive growth in Industry 5.0. It concludes a call to action for governments, industries, and educational institutions to come together to support the development of a future-ready workforce for the Industry 5.0 human-centric industrial environment.

As the world transitions from Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0, the focus is also shifting towards human centricity, resilience, and sustainability. In order to balance technical advancement with human values, this evolution necessitates a dramatic rethinking of educational paradigms. In an era increasingly influenced by intelligent systems like artificial intelligence, robotics, and data analytics, this chapter examines the rise of human-centric pedagogies that prioritize emotional intelligence, creativity, ethical reasoning, and critical thinking. Based on the ideas of Industry 5.0, it explores how educational systems might use human–machine collaboration to foster empathy, adaptability in addition to improving learning results.

The era of digitization has transformed manual processes into digital services by reducing human errors, saving time, and increasing customer loyalty to the services offered by any organization. COVID-19 has brought a boom in the roles of digitization in the banking sector. Banking and payments, an essential foundation of the economy, have experienced a significant increase in digital offers and uptake. The pandemic has hastened the adoption of digital technologies, with far-reaching implications for the future of the banking sector and the entire financial ecosystem. It is also imperative that banks, FinTech companies, payment system operators, regulators, and even telcos take part in an integrated approach to promote financial inclusion programs. This collaborative approach became key in bringing more people into the digital banking fold, banked and unbanked. The adoption of innovative fintech practices like artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain etc., are the key driver toward building a human-centred infrastructure aligned with the goals of Industry 5.0 in Asia. The purpose of this research is to analyze and probe into the pros and cons of the evolving roles of digitization in the banking sector and unfold the fintech practices. The research is essential as it emphasizes how digitization is solving fundamental unsolved difficulties in the banking industry and becoming a major disruptor in the financial sector.

The aim of this study is to analyze the banking habits of individuals and their level of satisfaction with the services provided. The research also investigates the factors that impact the accessibility of banking services. The study was conducted by collecting primary data from 300 households in India’s least urbanized state. The research reveals that every household owning a bank account is almost a complete objective. However, ATM and online banking usage and credit outreach remain significant concerns, especially in rural areas. The usage of ATMs and online banking was influenced by social groups and computer literacy. Also, social groups, household income, assets, and bank account ownership were found to play significant roles in selecting banks as a source of loans. Money lenders continue to be a significant issue, particularly in rural areas. Additionally, the attitude of bank employees and the complicated loan disbursement process are the primary reasons for the difficulty in accessing banking services in rural areas.

The paper investigates the globalization of the Indian Rupee and the resultant consequences on Asia and the global economy. It sets five objectives: to analyse issues of the historical context of the internationalization of the Rupee, undertake a comparative approach to India and other countries’ policies, examine its impact on developing economies in Asia and the rest of the world, study its role in the flows of trade and investments, and understand the dynamics behind the currency’s upsurge. The researchers employed a qualitative approach for the analysis. The results and analysis suggest that the Indian government has also developed various regulations aimed at facilitating international transactions in the Rupee including easing the controls on foreign currency. The proliferation of the Rupee has enabled other underdeveloped countries in the region that had strong trade relations with India to bolster their trade and decrease dependence on other reserve currencies with wider acceptance. It was also established that the Rupee has opened avenues for international trade and investment and may transition into a reserve currency at some point. In conclusion, the authors suggest that promoting international usage of the Rupee remains a viable strategy for the Indian government but risks have to be countered. To a large extent, the Indian Rupee’s internationalization is a good development, especially for Asians as well as the global marketplace.

This chapter explores the critical role of the finance sector in facilitating the transition to Industry 5.0 in Asia, which prioritizes human-centered, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure. Financial institutions, including banks, investment firms, and fintech platforms, play a pivotal role in mobilizing capital, mitigating risks, and fostering innovation. By leveraging tools like green bonds, sustainability-linked loans, and digital financial inclusion, the finance sector enables industries to adopt technologies that enhance both human well-being and environmental stewardship. The chapter highlights practical examples and case studies from across Asia, underscoring the interplay between finance and technology in achieving sustainable growth. Key theoretical and managerial implications are presented to inform policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers about the strategic alignment of finance with human-centric industrial transformation.

This research study investigates the integration of green technologies, renewable energy sources, and the circular economy within the framework of Sustainable Industry 5.0 through a cross-case analysis methodology. The objective of this study is to examine how these elements can synergistically contribute to sustainable industrial practices, addressing critical challenges such as climate change and resource depletion. The rationale for this research stems from the urgent necessity to transition industries towards sustainable practices that not only enhance operational efficiency but also promote environmental stewardship and social equity. Despite extant literature highlighting the importance of these components, there remains a significant research gap regarding the long-term impacts of their implementation across diverse industrial contexts. This study employs a cross-case analysis methodology, focusing on organizations exemplifying advanced applications of Industry 5.0 principles, including Siemens, Tesla, Interface Inc, Tata Steel and BYD. The findings indicate that integrating green technologies and renewable energy can significantly reduce carbon footprints while optimizing resource utilization through circular economy practices. The implications of this research are substantial, offering insights for policymakers and industry leaders on effective strategies for fostering sustainable industrial transitions. Furthermore, the study underscores the importance of human-centered design principles in infrastructure development to ensure equitable benefits for all stakeholders involved. Future studies should focus on longitudinal assessments of these practices across various sectors and explore the interplay between digital technologies and sustainability initiatives.

Industry 5.0 is a paradigm that blends environmental stewardship, human ingenuity, and technology breakthroughs. It seeks to address societal and environmental problems by expanding on the automation and efficiency of Industry 4.0. Green accounting is a dynamic framework that incorporates environmental considerations, such as waste management, resource depletion, and environmental costs, into financial calculations. This strategy emphasizes the relationship between social responsibility, environmental protection, and economic growth. Green accounting ensures that industrial operations are in line with long-term sustainability goals and support the UN Sustainable Development Goals by tracking and evaluating the environmental performance of technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and machine learning.

The complete transformation of Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0 is emphasizing the human centric values along with technological advancements, representing new paradigms for enhancing employee wellbeing. The literature review explores the evolving role of employee wellbeing within the context of Industry 5.0, examining the key themes such as emotional intelligence, personalised work experiences, machine collaboration and sustainable and ethical work practices. Through the interdisciplinary research on human resource management, organisation behaviour and emerging technologies, the review explores the critical success factors in nurturing wellbeing in technology advanced environments. The study further explains the human infrastructure and its association with wellbeing, etc. The paper further discusses the implications for policy and practice, emphasizing the need for flexible, ethical and inclusive aligned work models. The comprehensive synthesis provides the insights for academicians, policy makers and practitioners to integrate technological progress with the holistic wellbeing of the workforce in the era of Industry 5.0

Women's Entrepreneurship has become a key factor in the growth of South Asian Countries, especially the Indian economy, through engaging in ownership of business firms. This paper discusses the association between social entrepreneurship and women-empowered development projects to solve social challenges. The study examines how such enterprises promote social justice, equity, and sustainable development, as well as encourage entrepreneurship. The issues enlightened in the study showcase the prospects of female entrepreneurs in the field via strict and systematic examination of the case studies and the relevant documents. It is through this backdrop that the outcomes underscore the need for women as agents of change and are important in the agenda for change toward the transformation of the existing economic order. Through a grounded analysis of the linkages between women in development and new social business environments, this research explores how the empowering of dynamic groups could assist nations in managing volatile environments in reaching their goals. The report outlines recommendations for increasing and supporting women's social entrepreneurial initiatives, thereby increasing the positive effects of such enterprises on women’s communities in South Asia. The study goes further and explores how these businesses try to encourage social and economic integration by examples. It also shows the role of gender in stimulating and constraining entrepreneurial opportunities in that area using evoked examples and research findings. The present work raises important issues related to gender and development. It contributes relevant insights on how the increased social support from society for women entrepreneurs might improve some aspects of their operation and performance. These results stress women’s role in changing social settings and imply that organizations for the integrated development of society can turn into transformative.

Incorporating cutting-edge technologies to improve urban living and environmental sustainability, human-centered infrastructure for sustainable smart cities places a high priority on public participation and well-being. Creating livable, accessible, and inclusive urban environments that serve a variety of demographics is the main focus of this strategy. Utilizing smart technologies to maximize resource use, lower pollution, and enhance public services—such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and big data analytics—is one of the key components. These cities ensure that technology meets community requirements by encouraging active participation through a human-centric design approach. Reducing urban carbon footprints and improving quality of life are made possible by sustainable practices like the use of renewable energy, effective waste management, and green public spaces. Public participation and ongoing education are crucial for equipping citizens with the skills and information they need to prosper in the context of smart cities. In the end, this all-encompassing strategy promotes resilient, adaptable urban ecosystems that promote environmental and human health.