Analysing frugal innovation incubation programmes: a case study from the water sector

Abstract

Perceived positive impacts of frugal innovation for sustainable global development have triggered a variety of programmes to foster such innovation. To increase the impact of these programmes, it is important to understand how they function. In this paper, we develop a conceptual framework for the analysis of interventions that foster frugal innovations through incubation. Drawing on relevant theories and concepts in the field of innovation and related literature, the framework is based on two major categories of factors influencing the nature and outcome of frugal innovation incubation. The first category relates to the incubation process, the second to the innovation environment. The proposed framework is applied to the case study of VIA Water, a Dutch programme to foster water innovation in African cities. The framework and the case study presented in this paper demonstrate the complexity of a frugal innovation incubation process and thus the need to take a holistic approach when designing and/or analysing related interventions. We conclude that frugal innovation incubation programmes should consider that the innovation capabilities of potential frugal innovators tend to be weaker in developing than in developed countries. Therefore, incubation programmes should devise strategies that present frugal innovators possessing local knowledge and creative ideas with a realistic chance of competing.

Organizational Innovativeness in the Circular Economy: The Interplay of Innovation Networks, Frugal Innovation, and Organizational Readiness

“…The innovation network gives a foundation for achieving essential information and the ideas required for innovation-related activities in an organization [29]. With the frugal innovation mechanism, firms can use accessible information and knowledge acknowledged from external parties to encourage innovation activities to enhance organizational innovativeness [32]. Frugal innovation helps firms to restructure their operations and to act as a mechanism for cost reduction, this reduction of cost is done through the innovative ideas of the innovation network [19].…”

A inovação frugal em incubadoras de empresas: compreensão e perspectivas sob o ponto de vista dos gestores

“…The terms used are usually scattered, but still part of a general concept of the same interest such as increasing accessibility, social inclusion, digital inclusion, and the conquest of new markets (Mazieri, 2016). Despite the growing number of publications on frugal innovation, authors such as Koerich and Cancellier (2019) and Mvulirwenande and Wehn (2020) recognize the lack of instruments and mechanisms for measuring this phenomenon. Some common terms were observed in the development of this research, characterized as precursors of frugal innovation and often cited in the works found in the literature, such as inclusive innovation, extreme accessibility, open innovation, user-centered innovation, and reverse engineering.…”

“…The conduct of the interview followed a semi-structured script and was characterized by flexibility regarding the structure of the questions designed by the researcher (Manzini, 2004). The structure of the questions was built based on the elements extracted from the theories that emerged from this study, which are present in the theoretical framework, and involve: the understanding of what frugal innovation is, that is, if managers understand the meaning of the term, given the difficulty of measuring the phenomenon (Koerich & Cancellier, 2019;Mvulirwenande & Wehn, 2020) In addition, about the existence of frugal innovation in these incubators, for being installed in an emerging country (Weyrauch & Herstatt, 2017) and the managers' perspectives on this type of innovation (Koerich & Cancellier, 2019;Pisoni et al, 2018). Based on this structure of questions, the categories presented in this study emerged from the research corpus using content analysis, comprising the practice of frugal innovation by incubators, the mobilization of frugal innovation due to lack of resources, and the execution of frugal innovation by means of applications at technological incubators.…”

“…Although the concept of frugal innovation is gaining popularity and prominence in both practical and academic discourse, research involving this type of innovation in business incubators is still incipient (Koerich & Cancellier, 2019). Recent research such as that of Mvulirwenande and Wehn (2020) has addressed frugal innovation in incubation programs, demonstrating the complexity of this frugal incubation process and its impacts on the development of enterprises.…”

Sustainable Frugal Innovations in Water Sector

“…This is because private sector actors frequently lack the authority, comprehensive knowledge, and readiness to fill the regulatory gap outside of their immediate areas of responsibility. [26,27] A solid capacity development strategy is necessary for large scale impact of frugal innovations. activities of frugal innovations should be in line with a country's unique demands.…”