Yudina M.A. Industry 4.0: Competition to Stay Relevant. E-journal. Public Administration, 2020, Issue № 80, pp. 282-299, http: Yudina M.A. Industry 4.0: Competition to Stay Relevant. E-journal. Public Administration, 2020, Issue № 80, pp. 282-299, http://e-journal.spa.msu.ru/vestnik/item/80_2020yudina.htmISSN 2070-1381DOI 10.24411/2070-1381-2019-10074Posted on site: 29.06.20Текст статьи на сайте журнала URL: http://e-journal.spa.msu.ru/vestnik/item/80_2020yudina.htm (дата обращения 29.06.2020)AbstractNowadays the world undergoes a transition period between industrial revolutions. There is a comprehensive update of social and technological systems. Innovations of Industry 4.0 are called disruptive and are a tool for radical change. The competition for relevance is becoming more active, and the struggle for compliance with the requirements of the new era is going beyond business level up to the state level. The article analyzes this confrontation using the examples of four countries: Germany, the United States, Singapore and China. The study of their strategies for transition to a new industrial revolution is supplemented by data from the global competitiveness index (created by WEF) and the readiness for the future index (developed jointly by VTSIOM and the Valdai discussion club). This allowed author to show the essential differences between the approaches of the countries considered and to give a preliminary assessment of their effectiveness. The results of the analysis demonstrate the growing importance of personnel in the modern competition for relevance, which contrasts with the technocentrism that has long dominated the discussion of Industry 4.0. Achieving a balance between social and technological development is becoming a key goal for managers in all countries. An objective assessment of the competitiveness of states has always been a difficult task. The new conditions require a fuller consideration of social aspects, since they are an integral part of this balance. Its support from the government is not a guarantee of success. A common problem is the declarative approval by managers of a complex and costly system update with the implementation of conservative strategies in practice. The closer the interaction between business, government and society is, the greater the chances of success in the era of Industry 4.0 are. The current crisis, triggered by the global pandemic, further emphasizes the importance of trust between these actors.