JNU-GIAN Course on Quadruple Helix and Strengthening Knowledge Interactions for Frugal Innovation

JNU-GIAN Course on Quadruple Helix and Strengthening Knowledge Interactions for Frugal Innovation

17-21 February 2025

Foreign Faculty : Prof. Peter Knorringa, International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam, Hague, Netherlands

Host Faculty : Dr. Saradindu Bhaduri, CSSP, SSS, JNU

Duration: 17 - 21 February 2025

Link for Registration: https://jnucashless.fdsbase.com/

Overview: As elaborated by the UNCTAD in its 2017 report, new innovation approaches are needed to support the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. The promise of these new innovation approaches hinges on how successfully they can create a balance between scale and context specificity, while maintaining inclusiveness. Many such innovations require an appreciation for polycentric knowledge interactions based on mutual respect for various kinds of knowledge holders. This course takes up the case of frugal innovation, as one such new approach, and elaborates on how to strengthen knowledge interactions for generating socially impactful frugal innovations. India and the Netherlands offer interesting complementary experiences with key elements of this agenda. While India is rightly seen as the 'home' of many successful frugal innovations, both by local communities and by larger companies, The Netherlands is seen as the champion of consensus-building and co-creation by various stakeholders. The argument in the course is that scalable frugal innovations tend to be more successful and relevant when they succeed in synergizing efforts by local communities, local and global business, intermediary organizations, knowledge institutes and government agencies. The so-called Quadruple Helix model of the 'DutchDiamond' is an example of how stakeholders in the Netherlands have developed experience with such co-creation processes, that mobilizes government officials, business actors, university-based researchers and society through so-called citizen science participation. In the course we will discuss to what extent and under which conditions, some of the more successful Dutch experiences in sectors like water and agro-food might be useful in the Indian context. Moreover, the Dutch Quadruple Helix model has failed to achieve lasting results in policy areas like energy and shipbuilding, which will be instructive to see the context specificity and contingent nature of where and when Quadruple Helix processes are more likely to produce useful results. A next element in the course investigates how to further develop relationships between the constituting stakeholders in a Quadruple Helix model in India. Finally, also through a simulation game, the course critically assesses the potential value added of using a Quadruple Helix model to strengthen knowledge interactions for frugal innovations with developmental impacts.
Objectives: The primary objectives of the course are as follows:
i) To build up and strengthen research capacity on frugal innovation in Indian universities,
ii) To reach out to social sector professionals and industry executives on unfolding dynamics of frugal innovation,
iii) To sensitize policymakers on the challenges and need to support frugal innovations in a country like India,
iv) Motivate scientists to carry out and critically analyze frugal innovations.

Further Details