Book Title: Shaping the Future: Innovation, Sustainability, and Inclusive Growth in a Globalized Economy
Editors: Editors: Dr. Shanu Singh, and Dr. Yashmita Awasthi
Student Editor: Krishna Singh Rawat
ISBN: 978-93-7183-006-5
Chapter: 26
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59646/725/26
Author: Dr. Nirupama Singh
Abstract
Rapid urbanization, climate vulnerability, and widening socio-economic inequalities are forcing a reconsideration of how cities are governed. Conventional smart city models emphasize efficiency, automation, and data-driven optimization, often privileging technical performance over societal outcomes. As noted by the Industry 5.0 Community of Practice (2024), such models reflect an Industry 4.0 logic that centered on productivity, frequently overlooking human-centric values. Industry 5.0 offers an alternative paradigm by aligning technological advancement with human well-being, sustainability, and resilience. Scholars such as Itisha Sharma (2020) describe this shift as a move toward human-machine collaboration, where technology augments rather than replaces, human agency. In this context, urban systems must evolve beyond efficiency-driven frameworks toward inclusive, adaptive, and ethically grounded models. This study reframes urban operations within the Industry 5.0 paradigm, proposing a transition from “smart cities” to “sustainable and inclusive intelligent cities.” Central to this transition is the use of digital twins, predictive analytics, and decision intelligence systems. However, their deployment must be critically assessed to ensure they do not reproduce or deepen existing inequalities.