'Frugal Innovation and Development Research'

In this special issue on Frugal Innovation, the editors argue that while the top-down business and management literature on frugal innovation has claimed developmental relevance, at least equal importance should be given to much longer-standing bottom-up development studies discourses on grass-root innovation, bricolage, and livelihood strategies.

They argue that we need both literatures for a better understanding of how frugal innovations relate to development. Accordingly, they position the articles in this special issue in the frugal innovation and development debate.

Finally, they discuss the relevance of a frugal innovation lens in how two major global trends are impacting upon global development opportunities: the global diffusion of 3rd and 4th Industrial Revolution digital technologies and global population dynamics.