University-driven frugal innovations

This chapter presents a study of frugal innovation at universities in the Western Cape, South Africa. The study provides preliminary evidence of university faculty and students as frugal innovators. From the data emerges a typology of university-driven frugal innovation. Type 1 revolves around breakthrough technology and radical (re-)invention for affordability; type 2 is associated with a participatory, co-emergent approach and low-tech, scarcity-induced, affordable solutions. Type 1 aligns with the university research mission; type 2 aligns with its education and community engagement missions. The two types are described in terms of their distinct qualities. The authors suggest that including universities as frugal innovation actors has the potential to integrate insights from both literatures. It also sets the stage for a refined understanding of what frugal innovation is by looking at the commonalities across the types, and literatures. Frugal innovation can play a role in broadening universities’ contributions to society. Besides frugal innovation’s potential benefits for people in need, it gives students - and faculty - the opportunity to develop skills of increasing importance. It is an exercise in designing for and in a complex world and encourages a shift from an ‘either-or’ to a ‘both-and’ mindset: cost efficiency and superior functionality. We argue that it deserves a place in institutions with the mission to educate the next generation of professionals and leaders.