[{"command":"openDialog","selector":"#drupal-modal","settings":null,"data":"\u003Cdiv id=\u0022republish_modal_form\u0022\u003E\u003Cform class=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form ecl-form\u0022 data-drupal-selector=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 action=\u0022\/en\/article\/modal\/13997\u0022 method=\u0022post\u0022 id=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 accept-charset=\u0022UTF-8\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHorizon articles can be republished for free under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.\u003C\/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003EYou must give appropriate credit. We ask you to do this by:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n      1) Using the original journalist\u0027s byline\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n      2) Linking back to our original story\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n      3) Using the following text in the footer: This article was originally published in \u003Ca href=\u0027#\u0027\u003EHorizon, the EU Research and Innovation magazine\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003ESee our full republication guidelines \u003Ca href=\u0027\/horizon-magazine\/republish-our-stories\u0027\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003EHTML for this article, including the attribution and page view counter, is below:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022js-form-item form-item js-form-type-textarea form-item-body-content js-form-item-body-content ecl-form-group ecl-form-group--text-area form-no-label ecl-u-mv-m\u0022\u003E\n        \n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n  \u003Ctextarea data-drupal-selector=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 aria-describedby=\u0022edit-body-content--description\u0022 id=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 name=\u0022body_content\u0022 rows=\u00225\u0022 cols=\u002260\u0022 class=\u0022form-textarea ecl-text-area\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EWhen less is more: simple innovation offers hope in uncertain times\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt this year\u2019s International Architecture Exhibition in Venice, a small square house set up in Giardino delle Vergini told a story of resilience and ingenuity, demonstrating how innovation does not have to mean huge investment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECreated by the Swedish non-profit foundation\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bettershelter.org\/\u0022\u003EBetterShelter\u003C\/a\u003E, it has become a common sight in emergency situations worldwide \u2013 from the impromptu camps that sprang up across Europe for Ukrainian refugees in 2022 to the shelters set up after the Morocco earthquake in 2023.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe success of this unassuming construction lies in its simplicity. It comes flat-packed in two boxes and can be assembled by four people in a few hours \u2013 complete with windows, a lockable door and a solar-powered lamp.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\u0022text-center text-blue font-bold text-2xl w-full lg:w-1\/2 border-2 border-blue p-12 my-8 lg:m-12 lg:-ml-16 float-left\u0022\u003E\n  \u003Cspan class=\u0022text-5xl rotate-180\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\n  \u003Cp class=\u0022font-serif italic\u0022\u003EThe key first step for frugal innovation would be raising awareness among policymakers and the community.\u003C\/p\u003E\n  \u003Cfooter\u003E\n    \u003Ccite class=\u0022not-italic font-normal text-sm text-black\u0022\u003EJonas Antanavi\u010dius, Visionary Analytics\u003C\/cite\u003E\n  \u003C\/footer\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThinking frugally\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESuch simple and affordable solutions that focus on functionality over unnecessary frills have received increased attention in recent years under the banner of \u201cfrugal innovation\u201d.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThese products are usually cheaper to buy and make,\u201d said Dr Max von Zedtwitz, an expert in international innovation who co-authored an \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/op.europa.eu\/en\/publication-detail\/-\/publication\/639c142b-f260-11ef-981b-01aa75ed71a1\/language-en\u0022\u003EEU-funded study on frugal innovation in Europe\u003C\/a\u003E published in February 2025. \u201cThey also tend to be less wasteful and complicated in their design.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe study, which highlighted BetterShelter alongside other notable inventions, emphasised that frugal innovation is becoming especially relevant as Europe faces rising costs and growing social challenges.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, climate change and global trade tensions have all highlighted the continent\u2019s urgent need to boost innovation and competitiveness.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ERethinking innovation\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHistorically, frugal innovations were developed for or by lower-income countries. A related term, \u201creverse innovation\u201d, refers to\u0026nbsp;when smart ideas created in poorer countries end up being used in richer ones\u0026nbsp;\u2013 in a reversal of the usual trend.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn Europe, reverse innovation is still rare, but the potential is huge. These solutions could help Europe\u0026nbsp;do more with less, strengthen local supply chains and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. These are all key goals of the\u0026nbsp;EU\u2019s Competitiveness Compass, the strategic roadmap to boost Europe\u2019s growth and innovation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrugal innovation also aligns with Europe\u2019s priorities on\u0026nbsp;sustainability and social inclusion. It means designing tools that are\u0026nbsp;robust, affordable and accessible \u2013 whether that\u2019s a\u0026nbsp;solar-powered water purifier\u0026nbsp;or a\u0026nbsp;low-cost diagnostic tool for rural clinics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe approach is well adapted to address social challenges and advance key priorities on the EU agenda. By focusing on\u0026nbsp;using resources wisely and creating easy-to-use designs, they help reduce environmental impact through, for example, efficient desalination systems or fog collectors. They can also support more inclusive healthcare.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese innovations can strengthen local communities by being both more affordable and better tailored to community needs. Simple smartphone-based apps for health diagnostics, for instance, help local clinics tackle everyday challenges with fewer resources.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EEuropean twist: sustainability and social purpose\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEuropean frugal innovations, said von Zedtwitz, have expanded the concept beyond a mere cost-cutting exercise. \u201cWhat Europe has added is sustainability, lifestyle and utility.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to Jonas Antanavi\u010dius, a Lithuanian policy researcher who co-authored the study, they tend to have \u201ca social purpose and a larger goal driven by the founders\u2019 ideals\u201d.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe EU study revealed that the main drivers of frugal innovation in Europe are not large corporations, but startups, SMEs and local NGOs \u2013 organisations that focus on social impact rather than profit margins.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECitizens are also contributing ideas. For example, an EU-funded project called FRANCIS (2021\u20132025) ran two open innovation competitions where everyday people co-designed frugal solutions with guidance from scientists and industry mentors.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EModular shelving for compact homes and tablets that dissolve into sunscreen when mixed with water were among the ideas to emerge.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInterestingly, the study found that most frugal innovations come from Europe\u2019s high-innovation regions, such as Germany, France and the Netherlands, even though these products are designed for low-resource conditions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ERobust solutions that work\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFundamentally, frugal innovation is about doing more with less.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s not just about reducing cost,\u201d said von Zedtwitz. \u201cIt\u2019s also about improving utility for those who need a less complicated, less over-engineered product or service \u2013 one that is robust and actually works.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne example is\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.charm-international.org\/\u0022\u003EChARM\u003C\/a\u003E, a compact device the size of a digital kitchen timer that supports early detection of pneumonia in children. It has three buttons and colour-coded outputs, allowing community health workers without advanced medical training to use it effectively.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIts battery power and robust design, resistant to dust, water and heat, make it a reliable diagnostic tool in underserved regions of Africa, Asia and Latin America.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOf course, it\u2019s not perfect,\u201d said von Zedtwitz. \u201cBut you get 80% of the data with less than 20% of the effort, even with very young children.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EKey sectors: healthcare and water\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe EU study identified healthcare and green technology as standout sectors for frugal innovation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHealthcare seems especially ripe for these innovations. They range from 3D-printed hand prosthetics by the Turkish institute\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/robotel.org\/\u0022\u003ERobotel\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and digital solutions like smartphone eye exams by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/peekvision.org\/\u0022\u003EPeek Vision\u003C\/a\u003E, to streamlined processes\u0026nbsp;like the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.who.int\/europe\/news\/item\/19-01-2018-homegrown-low-cost-innovation-improves-ncd-treatment-in-croatia\u0022\u003Eprimary care panels\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;used in Croatia to assist in patient monitoring.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESeveral European companies have also focused on water purification and extraction. In Spain\u2019s Canary Islands, the EU-funded\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/lifenieblas.com\/\u0022\u003ELife Nieblas\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;project developed low-tech fog collectors that mimic local moisture-trapping trees and rely on wind to capture moist air, without any need for external power.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the Netherlands,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.desolenator.com\/\u0022\u003EDesolenator\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;has developed the first fully circular solar-powered water desalination system, which turns seawater and brackish water into safe drinking water.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe product has already been used in the United Arab Emirates, South America and India, and offers a promising solution for Southern European countries facing increasing water scarcity.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe path ahead\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDespite its potential,\u0026nbsp;frugal innovation barely registers on most policymakers\u2019 radar, and there is no dedicated strategy or funding for it at this time.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eismea.ec.europa.eu\/programmes\/european-innovation-ecosystems_en\u0022\u003EEuropean Innovation Ecosystems\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;programme goes in the right direction, supporting a more connected and inclusive innovation\u0026nbsp;network\u0026nbsp;in the EU. However, frugal innovations remain marginal and most innovation policies still favour\u0026nbsp;high-tech, high-profit projects.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe key first step for frugal innovation would be raising awareness among policymakers and the community,\u201d said Antanavi\u010dius.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\u0022text-center text-blue font-bold text-2xl w-full lg:w-1\/2 border-2 border-blue p-12 my-8 lg:m-12 lg:-ml-16 float-left\u0022\u003E\n  \u003Cspan class=\u0022text-5xl rotate-180\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\n  \u003Cp class=\u0022font-serif italic\u0022\u003EWe need to spread the knowledge of not only what frugal innovation is, but also how to do it.\u003C\/p\u003E\n  \u003Cfooter\u003E\n    \u003Ccite class=\u0022not-italic font-normal text-sm text-black\u0022\u003EProfessor Max von Zedtwitz, University of St. Gallen\u003C\/cite\u003E\n  \u003C\/footer\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe study recommends\u0026nbsp;funding reform\u0026nbsp;so people-focused ideas can compete with big-budget tech projects. It also calls for\u0026nbsp;training programmes\u0026nbsp;to help innovators and policymakers better understand the concept.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe need to spread the knowledge of not only what frugal innovation is, but also how to do it,\u201d said von Zedtwitz.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEurope\u2019s frugal innovators are proving that\u0026nbsp;sometimes the smartest solutions are the simplest ones. The question is whether policymakers will give this quiet revolution the attention \u2013 and resources \u2013 it deserves.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe views of the interviewees don\u2019t necessarily reflect those of the European Commission. 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