University-business cooperation for frugal innovation: a case study of the University of Campinas

Previous studies have highlighted that frugal innovation is often based on collaborative networks between many diverse actors, including entrepreneurs, informal businesses, small firms, large multinationals, business associations, NGOs, local governments and international donors. However, the contribution of universities as partners of frugal innovation projects remains largely unexplored. This chapter contributes to filling in this gap through a discussion of how universities foster frugal innovation by: (i) conducting applied research leading to new solutions that inspire frugal innovation initiatives, (ii) supporting young entrepreneurs in the process of creating their start-ups, and (iii) providing the necessary skills to firms’ prospective employees. University-business cooperation for frugal innovation is conceptualized as a critical component of an expanded understanding of the third mission of universities, linked to addressing sustainable development challenges. In addition to the conceptual discussion, new empirical evidence is offered based on a case study of the University of Campinas in Brazil. This case study serves as an illustration of the multidimensional dynamics of frugal innovations arising from university-industry relationships in emerging countries.