he World Economic Forum announces today that 22 innovative manufacturers have joined the Global Lighthouse Network, expanding the community to 172 leading production facilities and value chains that harness digital technologies at scale to drive next-generation operational excellence, environmental sustainability and workforce development. Amid global supply chain disruptions, technological advances and growing environmental pressures, sustainable transformation of global production has become critical to fuel much-needed productivity gains. The growing Global Lighthouse Network and its diverse members demonstrate how to harness artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced technologies in tackling these challenges where others have struggled to do so, future-proofing the industry by enhancing agility, resilience and environmental responsibility. The latest cohort of 19 Fourth Industrial Revolution and three Sustainability Lighthouses spans 10 countries: China, the Czech Republic, Germany, India, Mexico,

A new report released today by the World Economic Forum provides a comprehensive framework for governments and companies identifying the factors that make a location attractive for investment in manufacturing and supply chains. Ongoing geopolitical, technological and environmental disruptions are prompting companies to rethink their supply chain network design, with over 90% of leaders prioritizing regionalization and close to two thirds of manufacturers adopting a “power-of-two” geographical approach, ensuring the majority of their direct spending is sourced from two separate regions. Five key trends are driving this shift – including a move to more regionalized hubs, a transition to a digital-first model of operations, the adoption of more innovative approaches to sustainability and a deeper focus on skills and customer value. “As global value chains undergo a profound transformation, countries and companies have a unique opportunity to redefine their competitive edge," said Kiva Allgood, Head of the Cen