Digital urban production: how does Industry 4.0 reconfigure productive value creation in urban contexts?

Enabled by Industry 4.0, new forms of productive value creation emerge in urban spaces. But how the digital production (DUP) differs from that incumbent manufacturing and it benefits contexts remain unclear. Closing this gap, we study DUP firms selected cities North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Results indicate integrates design, displays circular problem-based to develop complex production-related solutions. At locations, draws particular advantages proximity customers, employees knowledge – conducive context qualities which outweigh ‘footloosening’ powers tools.