Actually my religion teaches me to be frugal (Waste not, want not). Right now, I'm doing frugal research, without a grant, just like your frugal science and engineering :))

I like this: 'Students create a senior design project centered around work with a social enterprise that uses technology to benefit society, and witness, firsthand, challenges faced by marginalized communities.'

Probably it is the future market, since 1)the majority of all world is poor 2)the already developed countries have recession. in Africa now and next years in your neighborhood, the need of cheap products will increase...

Actually my religion teaches me to be frugal (Waste not, want not). Right now, I'm doing frugal research, without a grant, just like your frugal science and engineering :))

I like this: 'Students create a senior design project centered around work with a social enterprise that uses technology to benefit society, and witness, firsthand, challenges faced by marginalized communities.'

Life always offers competition for scarce resources! Cheap science and/or frugal engineering are, therefore, highly welcome!

Period!

Dear Ljubomir,

The idea is great. As Bassam put it out its performance and quality is not known. However, it would be interesting to get an economical evaluation how are the real prices of our mainstream products and gadgets in terms of energy and materials. I am afraid we, consumers are ripped off.

My dear colleagues, frugal engineering comes from India. Here is an example, nice paper about the issue: "FRUGAL ENGINEERING: AN EMERGING INNOVATION PARADIGM " !

http://iveybusinessjournal.com/topics/innovation/frugal-engineering-an-emerging-innovation-paradigm#.UymofahdWls

You are a true Engineer only if you can find a way to produce any technology in least budget and with least utilization of resources.

Regards,

Nitish

I call it "Garage Inventions" which doesnt meant necessarily "Garbage Inventions".

I think that SKYPE has been invented in this way, for instance.

Tomy, not only Skype, but also Facebook was more or less invented this way...

@Jesus, You are right about Facebook. Beside, Skype was sold to Facebook as far as I know. @Tom and You gave a primers of successful application of frugal principles which made these products so valuable!

I don't know whether it was Cheap, Frugal, Tragic or Funny. Me and @Darasingh Shyoran once applied for research fund to the state Department of Science and Technology. And grant sanctioned worth $115 approx.

And of course we did it.

I do not understand addition of the the term frugal to a word of engineering. Frugal is part of engineering or more appropriately - practical . But being to frugal has its own negative attributes.

@Adam, I do agree with Your comments on an attribute FRUGAL, but it is definition of this discipline! Yes, every kind of engineering includes FRUGAL in self!

I guess I have being doing "CHEAP" research all my life unknowingly -good thing it is now "fashionable"! :-)

Seriously, I had to work on a very tight budget most of my life and I think that valuable research can come working on a low budget. And now that we are suffering such drastic cut-backs in Spain it is simply a necessity to survive! For some projects I have no real budget: I have to make do with whatever is for common use and small intramural subsidies.

Cheap and frugal Science and Engineering are possitve concepts and good research, discoveries and very practical and useful applications may come from it. Once somebody told me that NASA developed years ago a special ball-pen that worked under ingravity conditions -but when the USSR had to face the same problem they used a pencil!

Having said that, I would not like these opinions to be used by our Government to continue lowering our already meagre research budget!

Frugal research is the only way to do research in nations where funding is limited or non existent . This has also been my personal experience in applied research . We have tried to solve many problems with simple investigations , as expensive & complicated tests cannot be done . Though these were not acknowledged as adequate solutions to the problems we had raised , we were able to prove that these were effective by scientific methods . The essence of science is that they solve the many problems in society & this would also depend on the economic status of the country & its citizens . The yardsticks of developed nations will not be applicable to developing nations . It is a matter of fact that many of the simple tests have emerged from developed nations themselves , but are not acknowledged when we send it for publication . I have been able to publish them in local national journals & the citations have convinced me that frugal science has an important role to play in solving many problems .

Adopting low cost technology is the only way to do frugal research . Basic research needs high cost & high technology equipment , which is beyond the reach of most developing countries , as funds are just not available . Applied research can be done with low cost technology & is very relevant to society .Human capital with dedicated researchers is essential for development of low cost & practical technology . A nation which invests in science education & encourages researchers with adequate support would reap enormous benefits . Researchers should be considered as real heroes of a nation , as they sacrifice pursuit of wealth to do work which benefits society .

Very good presentation of the question!

The previous picture comes from " Frugal Engineering Will Save the World...."

http://thomasdinnocenzi.wordpress.com/2013/06/28/frugal-engineering-will-save-the-world/

I was unaware of it. Thanks for sharing.

It's never too late! Learning while it lasts! Frugal Engineering becomes more and more ineresting in the world.

Well said, Respected Ljubomir Jacić"It's never too late! Learning while it lasts!". Thanks for the nice remarks.

 Dear Ljubomir,

I wasn't aware of this approach. Thank you for shared information.

As I can see it  actually frugal engineering is the process of reducing the complexity and cost of a good and its production. It is similar to Juggad technology approach !

To me, "frugal" is over economical. "Cheap" is worthless, dear Ljubomir!

FRUGAL ENGINEERING /VALUE ENGINEERING

• Concept redesign
• Material Substitution
• Process Conversion
• Weight Reduction
• Space Optimization
• Assembly Process Re-design
• Parts Standardization
• Parts Integration/Reduction
• CAE led design optimization

http://www.eicherengineeringsolutions.com/frugal-engineering-value-engineering.html

CEO of GE Jeff Immelt calls the frugal innovation phenomenon reverse innovation. “If GE doesn’t master reverse (frugal) innovation, the emerging giants could destroy the company” (Immelt, Govindarajan, and Timble, 2009). Although there are several dimensions to frugal innovation, the overarching theme is simplification in process and outcome. There can be many connotations for “reverse” which are similar to frugal innovation in both process and outcome.

One, frugal or reverse innovation integrates specific needs of the bottom of the pyramid markets as a starting point and works backward to develop appropriate solutions which may be significantly different from existing solutions designed to address needs of upmarket segments (Silicon India, 2010). The context in which this innovation is seen occuring in lies in developing markets. Fu, Soete & Sonne (2010) claim that the innovation process itself is now likely to be reversed, starting with the design phase which will, to a large extent, be concerned with finding functional solutions for some of the particular BoP users’ framework conditions… (such as) a clear adaptation to the often poor local infrastructure facilities with respect to energy delivery systems, water access, transport infrastructure, digital access

http://www.frugal-innovation.com/category/examples/

Dear Ljubomir,

Good question, In my opinion, This science will be the most suitable approach for the next decades, but the term " Cheap Science" doesn't show the true dimensions of this science.

You reminded me with the term "Chaos theory" and how it indicates to complicated systems which are quite the opposite of chaos.

FRUGAL Innovation is different from standard innovation in many ways.

The general practice is to innovate for the top of the pyramid as there lies the greatest purchasing power with eventual trickle down effects. As such most design in Western markets relies on a ‘top down’ approach, targetting first the richer clientelle. Western practises use traditional (archaic) business and distribution models, rely on abundant resources (non-sustainable), incur costly product design and development, and result in high manufacturing costs which makes many science and technology innovations unaffordable for the bottom of the pyramid consumers.

In contrast, frugal innovation as is practised in emerging markets purposefully targets the bottom and then makes its way up to other levels to benefit all users.  There is potential to demonstrate that this is a new kind of innovation process which leverages institutional voids and resource constraints, debunks heavy R&D investment claims, and achieves profitability from BOP consumers.

http://www.frugal-innovation.com/what-is-frugal-innovation/

I think pro-poor technology and innovation could be more suitable term. Indeed in economic planning and policy the term is widely used.

In my country middle to eastern java use this frugal enginering in creating fireman robots  using cheap industrial and electronic waste. And it works well and win competition also. In developing country it is use a lot as money and infrastructure is frustating as it doesnt exist.

Its require more to creativity and community support such as linux community.

In other hand some technology still need other than frugal such as nano engineering and biotech engineering.

Dear all, this is encouraging, and simply, it is one arm of the equation that describes the Engineering: Engineering = The technical characteristics + The cost.

Good topic and I am tempted to disagree with dear Marwan on the way he made his statement - "cheap" is worthless !! Then how about the "free", like friendship for example? How can we really say that cheap is worthless?

In India, courtesy Mahatma Gandhi, the age old tradition of home spun cloth called "khadi" receives a huge boost. Colonial economists like RC Dutt (who actually lived in London) have hugely criticized the British for destroying domestic economy in India by introducing mill-made cloth. Mass production and  low pricing ensured that homespun became unsustainable and thousands depending on home spun cloth lost their livelihoods. In about 1920-25, Gandhi launched a huge movement to revive homespun and gave the name "khadi" to it. Khadi became a symbol of India's quest for freedom; khadi became a symbol of defying Colonial might; khadhi became an instrument to fight imperial capitalism. And, khadi won. It gave us the confidence to face the bludgeons and bullets of the British; it makes us feel Indian. And Khadi is cheap. Much cheaper than the high end textile products that capitalism produces even today. Even as India's increasingly affluent middle class seeks to enjoy the goods of the market, kahdi continues to hold its nationalistic appeal.

The point I am trying to convey is 'cheap' is not necessarily worthless. Cheap mentality, outlook and behavior is worthless. I am sure that many of us would have heard of "Jaipur foot". This is the cheapest prosthetic substitute for people loosing lower limbs in the world, produced in India. Over 1.3 million people in India and abroad have benefited by this 'cheap' technology. They walk, go to work, ride cycles and live otherwise useful life which they could never have obtained otherwise. Only millionaires can afford artificial limb replacements and 80% of humanity are definitely not millionaires. Depending on whether foot or entire knee needs to be fitted, it costs just USD 20 to 170 respectively. A standard western version would cost approx USD 3000. For details, see: http://jaipurfoot.org/

Cheap technology is the answer to the poor of the world. As we grow richer through marketization, we must remember that we are widening the gap between the haves and have-nots. We may not be able to make everyone rich. But we can make technology affordable to them. Cheap need not be worthless.

I am grateful to you dear Ljubomir for the question and indebted to dear Marwan for provoking me.

Have a great day.   

The idea of CHEAP Science  where scientists do fine work on a very small budget works well in the poor countries;  FRUGAL engineering and science are highly appreciated because they reduce the cost of the products.  It is used also in Mathematics by always studying the computational cost of methods and algorithms in Numerical Analysis and Computer Aided Design and related field.

Science should reach in every dimension of human being but I don't think the word 'cheep science' is appropriate.

This is my first time I've hear about it!

Thanks for posting this question, it is my first time to know about it. It seems that we have been doing this job unknowingly. Anyway, as it serves the humanity, we should support and encourage it. I think this branch of science might be the largely appropriate approach for the next decades.

@ Dear Ljubomir --No, it's the first time I come across the "CHEAP Science"....  : )

And yes the concept of Frugal engineering is a promising innovation.............. And many ideas of frugal engineering grow out of theories of technology appropriate to emerging or under served economies, as derived from the books of Victor Papanek. 

https://hbr.org/2012/07/frugal-innovation-lessons-from

Frugal means not spending a lot of money. Frugal Engineering is the way of breaking up complex engineering processes into its basic components and then re-building each component in the most economical manner. The end result is a simpler, more robust and easier to handle final process. It also results in a much cheaper final product which does the same job qualitatively and quantitatively as a more expensive complexly engineered product.

Similarly to Costas it's the first time i hear about this, but when I think to my past experiences I have already realized it in many circumstances. How? The need is the mother of invention: more fantasy and less technicisms.

Frugal innovation or frugal engineering is the process of reducing the complexity and cost of a good and its production.

Frugal innovation responds to limitations in resources, whether financial, material or institutional, and using a range of methods, turns these constraints into an advantage. 

see: http://www.nesta.org.uk/news/frugal-innovations

‏Frugal engineering is low in cost, affordable in nature and can be made for particular area.

In Industries, we practice frugal engineering. In the Pan IIM conference, held here from Nov 5 to 8, is one of the largest platforms in the country to exchange management research ideas and practices. Indian management practices such as jugaad, langar system and frugal engineering ways need to be documented in a formal way and taken all over the world, said Smriti Irani, Union HRD Minister.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/jugaad-frugal-engineering-ways-need-to-go-global-smriti-irani/article6570071.ece

Thanks for very good responses dear colleagues. I am free to recommend some good articles on frugal innovation and frugal engineering. Good reading!

https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_are_the_opinions_on_Ecodesign_vs_Frugal_Engineering

Conference Paper HOW FRUGAL ENGINEERING LEADS TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT?

Article CASE STUDY- FRUGAL ENGINEERING: INNOVATION AT RENAULT-NISSAN

Article Benchmarking -The First Step for Frugal Engineering

Article Resource-constrained product development: Implications for g...

Frugal engineering is the reason that Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Mars mission is the cheapest. ISRO has just become the first space agency to succeed on a Mission to Mars in its first attempt and at a low cost of only $75 million.

For two decades, (ISRO) created some of the best examples of frugal engineering in India.

The Indian space agency's Mars Mission, launching next week, is the cheapest by any nation to the red planet. And there are attributes unique to ISRO that enable it to practice frugal engineering at the cutting edge time and again

In the 21st century, when the world tries hard for low-cost access to space, other nations are looking at ISRO with interest and trying to use some of the principles it had perfected. ISRO is also becoming an important collaborator for NASA and Europe.

In the picture: In pic: Mars Orbiter Mission Spacecraft attached to the 4th stage of PSLV-C25 and ready for heat shield closure

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/slideshows/science-technology/why-isros-mars-mission-is-the-cheapest/frugal-engineering/slideshow/24982233.cms

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-10-31/news/43561612_1_moon-mission-chandrayaan-i-isro

http://blog.uberstarter.com/frugal-engineering-for-inter-planetary-markets/

i apologize for possible off-topic, but i may recommend an excellent example of "cheap" science with practical output. My friends and colleagues launched apps and a driver for hard hearing people. They based on a dedicated research on on-line transformation of an audio signal using Fourier decomposition. This research and practical development produced almost in-house.

http://www.petralex.pro

The first step to perform Frugal Engineering is to do benchmarking which is a pre-requisite for Value Analysis and Value Engineering.

Our friend @Abdelhakim sent me the following answer on frugal : "I think frugal engineering or innovation is so important to have access to a good or service we need (it respects just our requirements without extra features) with sensible price. it's a good solution to cover subscribers and customers in developping country. The example of the Iphone is consistant. it doesn't have the same price in the whole world.

I thank , dear researcher, for asking me this question and receiving my opinion.

have a nice day." Thanks!

In India we call it Jugad. Using innovative ideas the cheap alternative of engineering marvels are being explored. Which are economically viable and socially acceptable. These may fall under FRUGAL engineering.

It looks like we all agree about the must be for a fair price science, engineering, innovation, etc. However, that is mostly to be accomplished without a regulatory frame. Meaning, we are commonly paying more for "branding" than for innovation. Still, there are some light spots, like this initiative http://www.fairphone.com/ , the price could be similar to others in the market but there is no planned obsolescence included, so in terms of time/lasting is cheaper.

Yes Patrica, it is true in many case. Buyers/Consumers pay more for branding and marketing activity than the actual cost of innovation. Frugal Engineering for product development  can benefit from lower product development costs. The resulting savings can be used to compensate for other cost contributors such as inflation, labour cost, government taxes and others, while boosting profitability. 

The emergence of frugal innovation reduces the need for sophisticated labs and instead relies on clever brainstorming and a better grasp of basic engineering skills.

Curious students look on at a portable ultrasound system being used during a rural health camp in Midnapore, West Bengal, India. The camp was organized by student volunteers from the Engineering in Medicine and Biology (EMB) Student Club of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur.

Mandal, S. (2014). Frugal Innovations for Global Health—Perspectives for Students.

http://pulse.embs.org/january-2014/frugal-innovations-for-global-health/

One good resource from my archives 2012

The times of India has a topic on frugal engineering! The Economic Times also treats frugal engineering! Good!

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/'Frugal-engineering/news/

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/frugal-engineering/news/

If we're going to pursue sustainability - and we are - it cannot be a pursuit of energy efficiency alone. It has to include livability, beauty (which is a primary driver of durability), and affordability.

Total frugality - requires frugality with finite resources, including the family budget. Although it's the most salient issue today, energy frugality must be sought in concert with great design. It cannot stand alone as the only justification for any structure, because unless it's beautiful and useful, it won't stand the test of time.

http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/27048/a-conversation-with-tedd-benson-about-the-road-from-fine-carpenter-to-fine-businessman/page/all

Dear @Subhamoy, thanks for your fine paper. Dear friends, thanks for your contribution to this important issue! Happy new year my dear RG friends!

Great link @Behrouz, thanks.  From that first link above: 'Biomedical engineering students should embrace these challenges and make the most out of them through innovative projects aimed at solving real-world problems. An interesting observation when one sees the whole domain of biomedical innovations is that many innovations have been stemming out of emerging economies rather than only from the richly funded laboratories of the developed nations. As it has been said, “necessity is the mother of invention,” so the lack of crucial infrastructure and technologies often gives rise to local inventions that solve local problems, and health care has been no exception.'

Of course, I do frugal science, and I managed to publish 2 articles in online journals, and one chapter in 2014.  I thank all of you, especially Profs Ljubomir, Enzo, Nageswara.

Thanks Subhamoy!  I'm happy to meet you here.  Perhaps many of us who need to do frugal research understand one another so well, and sympathize with one another.  (Sorry, I'm so busy.  I saw your post yesterday, but had lost internet connectivity for 20 hours, and then I was busy again with lab classes.)

From Jugaad innovation in India to Jeitinho innovation in Brazil, these frugal products are proving the fastest growing sector in emerging markets (2013) as companies race to grab a slice of the "Next Billion".

In Brazil frugal innovation is called “jeitinho brasilero”, which basically applies to the very complex situations and problems, where the possible solution is very difficult to find. In terms of innovation “jeitinho” means creating products or solutions to certain problems with instruments that you have on hand.

http://heloise.passle.net/post/102bxu6/frugal-innovation-from-india-to-brazil

Fine application of frugal engineering in the automotive industry!

Ford targets emerging markets with frugal India engineering!

How Renault embraced Indian frugality with the $4,700 Kwid!

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/11/ford-motor-india-idUSL3N1034MQ20150811

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/27240398-ffd8-11e4-bc30-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3jfX4rtLh

Dear Ljubomir,

Dear All,

Cheap science? Is not it the squaring the circle? Frankly spoken, I have tried to do it for a long time: making research without a cent and doing everything alone. My only instruments are a sweep net and a microscope. One can call it also frugal or economic.  This is a fine expression in this media permeated world. Certainly, the fine results cannot be assured.

Inventors have come up with handy devices, considerably decreasing our work load, making life graceful and easier.

http://food.ndtv.com/lists/unbelievable-kitchen-appliances-youll-love-part-ii-704835