Knowledge transfer for frugal innovation: where do entrepreneurial universities stand?
Date
2021
Type:
Article
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Abstract
Purpose: Frugal innovation has gained prominence based on its potential contribution to sustainable development and the new opportunities that it offers to low-income customers. This paper analyses the strategic knowledge transfer practices implemented by an entrepreneurial university for fostering frugal innovations within an emerging economy.
Methodology: We adopted a case study methodological approach. The selected case was the University of Campinas (Unicamp), one of the leading universities in Brazil in terms of research quality and technology transfer. The study built upon 14 interviews with key informants and secondary sources of data (official and public documents).
Findings: Our findings highlight the multidimensional dynamics of frugal innovations arising from university-industry relationships. Key dimensions considered include the internal capabilities of universities to foster frugal innovations and connect them to markets, the surrounding innovation ecosystems in which the university is embedded, and the overarching institutional framework.
Research limitations: The analysis of strategic management practices for frugal innovation requires an evolutionary perspective, but we lacked sufficient longitudinal information for a formal evaluation. Also, since our empirical analysis is based on an in-depth case study of one university, further validation in other contexts would be necessary.
Practical implications: The study offers new insights regarding the effectiveness of university-business collaboration partnerships for developing frugal innovations in emerging economies. Policymakers should promote societal programs enhancing the active participation of all agents involved in the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem. University managers should understand the challenges and the opportunities behind the adoption of an inclusive and societal orientation.
Social implications: By adopting frugal innovation practices, universities can enhance their
contribution to meeting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Originality: The literature on frugal innovation has emphasized the importance of networking between different types of firms, NGOs, and governments, but the role of universities in frugal innovation remains mostly unexplored. Our study addresses this gap by exploring how entrepreneurial universities participate in frugal innovations to meet societal challenges.
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Citation
Fischer, B., Guerrero, M., Guimón, J. and Schaeffer, P.R. (2021), "Knowledge transfer for frugal innovation: where do entrepreneurial universities stand?", Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 25 No. 2, pp. 360-379. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-01-2020-0040
Keywords
Strategic Knowledge Transfer Management, Frugal Innovation, Sustainable Development, Entrepreneurial University, Entrepreneurial and Innovation Ecosystems, Social Innovation Approach, Emerging economies, Brazil