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Frugal Innovation or frugal engineering refers to reducing the complexity and cost of the production of a good to make it available to a larger portion of the population. A few examples of frugal innovations around the world shall give a clearer picture of what it is.
| Country | Product | Description |
| India | Tata Nano Car | A small four-wheel car launched by the TATA group to help the lower middle class to get access to personal vehicles.[1] |
| Ghana | Toyota Charcoal Stove | People of Ghana cooked with inefficient charcoal stoves which required a lot of energy. Toyota Charcoal Stove is an inexpensive solution to that.[2] |
| China | Haier Washing Machine ‘Mini Magical Child’ | A smaller machine than usual washing machines with the purpose of meeting basic washing needs.[3] |
| Kenya | M-PESA currency system | M-PESA is a mobile banking system that assists people to deposit, withdraw, transfer money, pay for goods and services (Lipa na M-Pesa), and access credit and savings, all with a mobile device. |
Bangladesh’s abysmal condition in innovation has been reflected in the most recent Global Innovation Index.
This is also reflected if we look at the number of patents filed by Bangladesh in the past five years.
Bangladesh’s neighbor India, on the other hand, has been miles ahead of other countries with 897, 909, 1045, 1036, and 1218 patents in the same years. A major reason behind this is the low expenditure on scientific innovations in Bangladesh.[4]
Even in the Pharmaceutical Sector, where Bangladesh has shown significant growth, has shown little innovation and most of the growth can be attributed to the patent exemption Bangladesh has till the year 2033.
Despite the growth of the middle and affluent class in recent years, a large portion of the population still belongs to the lower middle class and below. Thus, to solve their problems, it is necessary to come up with innovations that are accessible to them. That is the only way to kickstart a technological revolution In Bangladesh.
The country has seen its fair share of frugal innovations as well which have solved many social problems. A few notable ones have been discussed in the table below.
| Invention | Description |
| Arsenic | Bangladeshi Scientist Dr. Abul Hussam invented an arsenic filter to help rural Bangladeshis from arsenicosis.[5] This was donated to many families around the country and they were given training on how to use it. |
| 10 Minutes School | 10 Minutes School is helping in providing education to students all around the country. While an internet connection is still an issue in rural areas, the introduction of the 10 Minutes School Mobile Application can make a difference due to the spread of 3g and 4g internet. |
| Bkash | Bkash, a service like Mpesa in Kenya, is helping the lower-income people of the country get access to some level of financial inclusion. A large portion of the population in the country belongs to the informal sector and Bkash is helping them slowly integrate into the formal sector. |
| Low-Cost Cancer Detection | A group of scientists at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology has found a low-cost method for the early detection of cancer. It costs only Tk 500 and takes only five minutes.[6] |
As the Covid-19 pandemic is spreading rapidly, the importance of Frugal Innovation in the health sector is ever-increasing. One of the main issues with Bangladesh’s fight against Covid-19 is the unavailability of healthcare technology. There has been lots of talk about how Bangladesh lacks sufficient ventilators, test kits, etc. This is where frugal innovations can rise up and make a difference.
The most important frugal innovation during Covid-19 in Bangladesh has been the Rapid Dot Blot testing kit by Gonoshasthaya Kendra which would cost significantly lower than the test kits which are being imported currently.[7] If this test proves to be successful, it could be the weapon Bangladesh needed to fight the pandemic.
Bangladeshi doctors have come up with such innovations before as well. In 2017, a Bangladeshi doctor invented a ventilator by using shampoo bottles to treat infants suffering from pneumonia.[8] Inventions similar to this are necessary since traditional expensive medical equipment is getting scarce and is not enough for the growing number of patients.
Frugal Innovations can drastically improve the Bangladeshi lifestyle. While innovations in the medical sector are especially important currently, frugal innovations can make a difference in other sectors as well.
Ranging from affordable housing to easy access to power, frugal innovations have been an important tool in improving the lives of people. To encourage frugal innovations, the following steps can be taken.
However, regardless of how Bangladesh chooses to encourage frugal innovations, it is necessary that the next budget prioritizes Research and Development. Without a technological revolution in Bangladesh, the nation could fall into the middle-income trap, which has been the case for many middle-income countries.[9]
Bangladesh has been relying on a few sectors like RMG Export and Remittances to ensure its growth for a very long time. A technological revolution in the country might not only improve the lives of the general population but also ensure security for the economy of Bangladesh.
Kidwa Arif, Content Writer at LightCastle Partners, has prepared the write-up. For further clarifications, contact here: [email protected].
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