Frugal innovation and other similar innovations in the Latin American context: an integrative review of literature

Abstract

The study presented in this article aimed to identify conceptual interrelationships that represent and distinguish Frugal Innovation (FI) from Base Innovation (BI), Base of the Pyramid Innovation (BPI), Inclusive Innovation, Jugaad Innovation (JI), Social Innovation (SI), Sustainable Innovation, and Low-tech Innovation (Lo-TEK). This research is justified by the conceptual overlap between these approaches, which has fostered their interchangeable and analogous use in the state of the art, especially in studies under contexts of constraint and emerging economies. To carry out this exploratory and qualitative conceptual study, an integrative literature review was conducted, combining terms in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French. Boolean operators were used in Science Direct, Scopus, Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC), CAPES Journal Portal, and Google Scholar. A total of 56 documents, published between 2000 and 2025 (focusing on 2016), were selected. The data were analyzed using a descriptive qualitative technique with a comparative and iterative approach. The results allowed for the delimitation of IF categories, as well as the identification of convergences/divergences between them and the innovations analyzed. The study also revealed the potential of IF as a vector for generating projects appropriate to the specific local and regional characteristics of Latin America.