Since 2018, lighthouses recognized by the World Economic Forum, working in collaboration with McKinsey & Company, have been frontrunners of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Their ability to drive impact at scale in all geographies and sectors has remained the essential differentiator, even as the challenges have changed with time. A total of 142 use cases resulting in double-digit improvements in financial, operational and sustainability metrics are their markers of success.

A new chapter of the Fourth Industrial Revolution – scaling advanced technologies throughout production networks and beyond – is under way amid continuing major global disruptions that include soaring energy prices and inflation, talent shortages, supply chain disruption, and the increasing impact of climate change. Against this backdrop, a survey was conducted to understand the positions of lighthouse and nonlighthouse companies on this next chapter. The results revealed the top three strategic priorities of respondents across all industries and regions: productivity, sustainability and resilience – and the scaling of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies across production networks is considered a highimpact lever to achieve these by most.