Grassroots And Frugal Innovation: New Pathways Towards Sustainability And Social Inclusion In Ecuador

Authors

  • Mario Pansera Universidad de Exeter
  • Roberto Rivas Hermann Nord University
  • Horacio Narvaez-Mena Universidad de Wageningen

Keywords:

frugal innovation, grassroots innovation, social inclusion

Abstract

This article explores the notions of frugal and grassroots innovations and their potential to lead towards a more sustainable and socially inclusive development. Grassroots or frugal innovation, usually developed under conditions of material and financial scarcity, aspires to solve -in a simple but effective way– problems that affect the lower layers of society. In its first part, this paper introduces the concept of grassroots innovation from a theoretical perspective. Its second part describes the results of an ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Ecuador. The research focuses on four case studies designed to explore the potential of grassroots innovation in Ecuador. Finally, the paper ends with the proposition of a future research agenda and a number of proposals to integrate grassroots innovation in public policy.

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Published

2017-10-04

How to Cite

Pansera, M., Rivas Hermann, R., & Narvaez-Mena, H. (2017). Grassroots And Frugal Innovation: New Pathways Towards Sustainability And Social Inclusion In Ecuador. Revista Iberoamericana De Ciencia, Tecnología Y Sociedad - CTS (Ibero-American Science, Technology and Society Journal), 12(35). Retrieved from https://ojs.revistacts.net/index.php/CTS/article/view/23

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 35 (2017)

Section

Articles

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