Potential for Frugal Innovation in a Brazilian Regional System: A Study Based on a Multicriteria Approach

Gabriel Gomes Moreira, Robério José Rogério dos Santos, Victor Diogho Heuer de Carvalho (), Francisco José Peixoto Rosário and Agnaldo José dos Santos
Additional contact information
Gabriel Gomes Moreira: Technologies Axis, Campus do Sertão, Federal University of Alagoas, Delmiro Gouveia 57480-000, Brazil
Robério José Rogério dos Santos: Technologies Axis, Campus do Sertão, Federal University of Alagoas, Delmiro Gouveia 57480-000, Brazil
Victor Diogho Heuer de Carvalho: Technologies Axis, Campus do Sertão, Federal University of Alagoas, Delmiro Gouveia 57480-000, Brazil
Francisco José Peixoto Rosário: Department of Economics, School of Economics, Business Administration, and Accounting, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió 57072-970, Brazil
Agnaldo José dos Santos: Technologies Axis, Campus do Sertão, Federal University of Alagoas, Delmiro Gouveia 57480-000, Brazil

Societies, 2024, vol. 14, issue 6, 1-22

Abstract: Regional innovation systems (RISs) can stimulate knowledge sharing and collaboration, attracting investments and promoting economic and social progress. This is often linked to what is known as frugal innovation, involving small businesses developing and selling sustainable, low-cost products that meet local needs. This study aims to present and apply a model to measure regional innovation potential, using a multicriteria approach based on the principles of frugal innovation (FI). The analytical hierarchical process (AHP) was used to generate factor weights, enabling score calculation to provide insights into FI potential on a literature-based five-point scale. Data were collected in two stages: (i) from twelve main participants—working in a rural RIS—who responded to a questionnaire, and (ii) from cities through official government channels to collect information about their innovation development initiatives. The results reveal that the RIS analyzed still lacks assistance in the development of public policies to support the development of an innovative culture, indicating the need for appropriate mechanisms to boost innovation actions. The outputs of this study can help cities and regions to analyze their innovation potential, assist public managers in decision-making, support the creation of innovation-stimulating mechanisms, help RISs to address deficiencies, and promote local development.

Keywords: frugal innovation; innovation potential; rural regional innovation systems; multicriteria analysis; analytical hierarchy process (AHP) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A13 A14 P P0 P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 Z1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/14/6/95/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/14/6/95/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsoctx:v:14:y:2024:i:6:p:95-:d:1419210

Access Statistics for this article

Societies is currently edited by Ms. Farrah Sun

More articles in Societies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().