6TH INDUSTRIAL
REVOLUTION
Industry 6.0 Definition
What is the 6th Industrial Revolution?
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The 6th Industrial Revolution is emerging as the next major phase of technological and economic transformation. Driven by the convergence of artificial intelligence, robotics, intelligent automation, and advanced digital systems, it has the potential to reshape productivity, industries, and societies at an unprecedented scale. Yet the speed of innovation is outpacing the governance, strategy, and ethical frameworks needed to ensure these powerful technologies are used responsibly. For organizations, governments, and professionals, understanding the implications of the Sixth Industrial Revolution is essential to harness opportunity while safeguarding prosperity, security, and trust. This resource page brings together insights, predictions, and guidance to help leaders navigate the opportunities, risks, and responsibilities of the 6th Industrial Revolution.​​
Phases of the Modern Industrial Revolution
Our Founder and President, Deborah Collier, has written and presented about the 5th and 6th Industrial Revolutions for several years, exploring how these emerging phases of transformation influence productivity, growth, and competitiveness across organisations, individual careers, and national economies. In our infographic below, she illustrates how organizations can be grouped into four broad categories — Modern Innovators, Early Adopters, Later Adopters, and Behind the Curve — and maps how these groups have evolved from the pre-revolution period (1990–2023) through the 5th Industrial Revolution (2024–2026) and towards the forthcoming 6th Industrial Revolution.
This framework provides a practical way to reflect on where organisations currently sit in the pace of technological and digital change — and what it may take to remain competitive as the next phase of the modern industrial revolution unfolds.
So where does your organisation sit? Are you a Modern Innovator shaping the future, an Early Adopter building competitive advantage, a Later Adopter adapting as change becomes unavoidable, or at risk of being Behind the Curve? Identifying your position can help determine whether you have the leadership, capabilities, and strategic vision needed to stay competitive in the next phase of industrial and digital transformation.
