Mapping the Research Space Shaped by EU-Funded Projects in Relation to Cyber-Physical Systems, Human-Machine Networks and Their Connection to Resilience

Abstract

The relationship between humans and machines has been thoroughly investigated throughout existing literature focusing on various angles of everyday life. Research on cyber-physical systems and human-machine networks has tried to shed light on the connection between social and technological aspects, offering insights and helping on a better matching and exploitation of the revealed space amongst those elements. In several cases, the exploration of human-machine networks has offered new ways to engage with vulnerable and marginalized groups more effectively, as well as to foster the well-being of individuals and communities. This can be perceived as a hidden potential of cyber-physical systems and human-machine networks towards empowering resilience, which can be approached by various developmental dimensions, like community engagement, transport safety, energy production and consumption, as well as new techno-economic orientations. The study targets on mapping the links between elements being part of cyber-physical systems, human-machine networks and resilience, that have been created through research and innovation projects funded by the European Commission under the programme Horizon 2020, between 2014 and 2021. A total set of 7,859 projects are analyzed in relation to their title and abstract for revealing bridges that have been constructed between human-machine features and resilience. Our analysis further explores the main fields of application of projects on cyber-physical systems and human-machine networks and reveals the ways in which the relate to two resilience characteristics, connectivity and collaboration. It shows the increasing focus of European research projects on cyber-physical systems and human-machine networks and their rising potential for resilience.