How inclusive can innovation and development be in the twenty-first century?

Abstract

Innovation is crucial for development. Addressing twenty-first century developmental challenges requires innovative processes and products, which help in reducing and/or eliminating the gap between rich and poor in the society. Such innovations can meet basic needs of low-and middle-income groups in developing countries, providing them with capabilities to function. The aim of this paper is to answer the question of how inclusive (of people and places) innovation and development can be in the twenty-first century. The paper therefore reviews new models of innovation for development, including 'frugal' and 'grassroots' or 'below the radar' innovation models. The argument put forward is that their inclusiveness depends not only on their diffusion to the poor but also on their generation according to principles of participation and equity derived from contemporary theories of global justice. These are conditions with direct impact on meeting the poor's basic needs and increasing their capabilities to function.

Frugal Innovation and Development: Aides or Adversaries?

“…Although frugal innovation might have the potential to be inclusive, it is not inherently so (Papaioannou, 2014). Frugal innovation can involve low-income producers in the design, production and marketing process, yet it might equally be that multinationals design, produce and market frugal innovations that end up jeopardizing local entrepreneurs (Ansari et al, 2012).…”

“…More so than conventional types of innovation and technology networks, frugal innovation may allow the incorporation of the values of Asian and African producers and consumers in the design, production, marketing and distribution of frugal products, systems and services (Chataway et al, 2014). Because of its polycentric nature that links actors in the formal and informal sectors across different countries, frugal innovation might play a role in creating sustainable economic growth and inclusive development (Papaioannou, 2014). Will frugal innovation lead to sustained and equitable economic growth, or will it merely benefit a privileged few while exploiting others (George et al, 2012;Dolan and Roll, 2013;Cozzens and Sutz, 2014)?…”

“…Because of its focus on including low-income producers and consumers in the innovation value chain, frugal innovation is expected to disrupt existing capital-intensive and top-down forms of innovation, contributing to more inclusive forms of development (van Beers et al, 2013;Chataway et al, 2014). Yet it should be empirically questioned whether frugal innovation will indeed be able to play this role (Papaioannou, 2014). In an article on Improved Cook Stoves, a quintessential example of frugal innovation, Abdelnour and Saeed (2014, pp.…”

Los caminos de la innovación y la inclusión en las empresas multinacionales que operan en México

“…En el corazón de sus preocupaciones, se encuentra el concepto de "innovación incluyente", que en esencia se refiere a aquellas formas de innovación que deliberadamente incorporan o buscan incorporar de alguna manera las necesida-http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/15174522-019004606 des de aquellos grupos sociales marginados y excluidos sistemáticamente de los procesos de desarrollo, especialmente los de más bajos ingresos (OECD, 2013a). La raíz de esta preocupación radica en que se asume que las innovaciones tecnológicas en el sector formal han fracasado hasta ahora tanto en comprender como en solucionar los problemas de exclusión social (Papaioannou, 2014). Entre otras razones, porque siempre han sido concebidas en función de las necesidades de las empresas, de su eficiencia y competitividad, y no con propósitos específicos de inclusión.…”

“…De acuerdo al propio Papaioannou, para que un modelo de innovación pueda ser calificado como incluyente, es preciso que haya evidencia de que, en los contextos específicos de desarrollo en los que se despliega, persigue la satisfacción de las necesidades humanas básicas sobre una base de equidad. La inclusión es concebida como una cuestión de elemental justicia global (Papaioannou, 2014).…”