The seed to the Jurassic Park, and later, Jurassic World franchises was put in place by the renowned author, Michael Crichton. In the introduction to his techno thriller fiction of the same name, Mr. Crichton claims that biotechnology could be “the greatest revolution in human history. By the end of this decade, it will have outdistanced atomic power and computers in its effect on our everyday lives.”
This was written way back in 1990. Yet, although innovations in biotechnology make the news once in a while, they do not create the excitement or buzz that is associated with information technology, artificial intelligence, advances in smartphones, robotics, etc. Why is this so?
Biotechnology though subtle is a crucial amalgamation of science & technology. It is usually not something flashy, like a smartphone you can show off in the palm of your hand. But biotechnology is quietly gaining ground. Recently gene editing caught the attention of the media with CRISPR-Cas9, which created a buzz. Advances in stem cells, proteomics, and drug development are also quietly gaining attention.
Biotechnology can be eco-friendly wherein microorganisms can be used to treat pollution or used in agriculture where they can replace harmful chemical fertilisers. But how to manufacture eco-friendly biotechnology products? Advanced frugal innovations (AFIs) can significantly help in this regard.
AFIs or advanced frugal innovations are parts/products that are affordable, consume lesser resources and provide best-quality functionality. These are not Jugaad or grassroots frugal innovations (GFIs) that are makeshift and possess poor to moderate quality. AFIs are engineered by engineers and/or scientists using the best of science & technology. AFIs are designed to harness the significant potential of frugality in any engineering application in any sector. Extreme examples of AFIs include table top particle accelerators and amazing telescopes.
Dr. Amit Kumar Dwivedi, who is Professor and Director at the Department of Government Projects and Regional Director of the Northern Regional Office, at the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, Ahmedabad, India, acknowledges the combination of biotechnology and AFIs explained in this paper with the following comments: “This paper explores the prospects and challenges of forming biotechnology as an integral component of AFI, focusing mainly on materials and design. Such an AFI-bio integration will contribute to the transformation of economic structures towards sustainability and will also foster the growth of the bio-economy. The paper has significantly stressed on frugal innovation, which is the need of the hour to achieve the sustainability vision.”
There is an urgent need for environmentally friendly technologies. AFIs answer this need. AFIs apply the latest in science & technology to generate affordable and high-quality products which consume less material and use lesser energy than conventional products.
The aim of AFIs is to reduce material and energy requirements to minimise costs and environmental impact. Due to their regenerative and recyclable nature, biotechnologies often have an excellent environmental footprint and have the potential to be cost-effective alternatives to conventional solutions.
Therefore, biotechnology can be integrated with AFIs in 3 ways:
Bio-materials can replace conventional materials. Bio-based alternatives may reduce weight, cost and energy requirements throughout the production process and during the application of the product.
- Bio-materials can replace conventional materials. Bio-based alternatives may reduce weight, cost and energy requirements throughout the production process and during the application of the product.
- The properties of biological materials may allow for partly or entirely new product designs.
- Some biological or bio-based bonding technologies have advantages over conventional ones when it comes to eventual disassembly and disposal, which are significant to frugal engineering.
These examples were categorised according to particularly promising areas of application. Despite the theoretical advantages outlined, there is still no widely known example that demonstrates the potential of AFIs linked with biotechnology. One of the reasons for this is the systemic interdependence of existing solutions and companies, and on the other hand, a lack of familiarity. Other factors include inexperience with frugalization processes, low market awareness of AFIs, lack of availability of biotechnology solutions, and existing regulations and standards of companies.
In order to create awareness, two strategies have been considered. Firstly, there is a considerable need for more research. It is important to continuously screen different technological trends and check whether they can be integrated in order to fully exploit the potential of AFI as well as the integration of biotechnology to promote its implementation. Secondly, in many cases, AFI can be seen as a complementary and better rather than a competing approach. However, such technological developments and in particular the merging of technological paths are complex and require the involvement of different stakeholders to lower the risks. It is already apparent that the implementation of this type of innovation will involve entrepreneurial, political, scientific, as well as social effort and change. In order to lower these barriers in an appropriate form, broad coalitions are needed that are able to generate flagship products and sufficient legitimacy.
Overall, the combination of AFI and biotechnology opens up a wide array of innovations that may form a path towards a sustainability-oriented transformation. However, there is a need for a deeper conceptual alignment of innovation for increased competitiveness and green and social innovation. In order to respond to environmental challenges quickly, the speed of innovation and diffusion itself should receive theoretical attention. The same is true for the changing role of resource-scarce economies, which may evolve from recipients of established technologies to active stakeholders in innovation processes.
Dr. Amit Kumar Dwivedi confirms the environmental advantages of combining biotechnology and AFI with the following comments: “The research article also highlights examples and the impact of integrating biotechnology into AFI, which makes the research agenda clearer and brings robustness in the research work, and shows how ecological footprints can be improved and may lead to additional cost savings at the same time.”
He also points out the entrepreneurial challenges by pointing out: “Further, the paper also addresses some cautions that are fruitful for the entrepreneurs by highlighting “Entrepreneurs must recognize a potentially risky business opportunity and have the ability to implement it”. Therefore, the research work has identified a new niche and has a significant contribution in the field of biotechnology and Advanced Frugal Innovation.”
The following are the authors of this insight paper:
- Prof. Dr. Ingo Liefner from the Institute of Economic and Cultural Geography, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany. Prof. Dr. Ingo Liefner is also affiliated with the Department of Industrial Engineering, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.
- Mr. Leon Worbs from the Institute of Economic and Cultural Geography, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany.
- Dr. Julian Barnikol from the Institute of Economic and Cultural Geography, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany.
- Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Stefanie Heiden from the Institute of Innovation Research, Technology Management and Entrepreneurship, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany
- Dr.-Ing, Henning Lucas from the Institute of Innovation Research, Technology Management and Entrepreneurship, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany.
- Dr. Balkrishna C. Rao from the Department of Engineering Design, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai, India.
Prof. Balkrishna C. Rao has written an insightful book into frugal engineering and AFIs titled: ‘Frugal Engineering Advent, Design and Production of Frugal Products’, published by Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2024
This book talks about the urgent need for implementing frugal engineering because of problems such as climate change and the need to enhance sustainable development in all endeavours. The author stresses that frugal engineering is not Jugaad, and can be of the highest quality. The author then introduces us to Advanced Frugal Innovations (AFIs), which are a welcome development that has warranted modifications to engineering itself for coping with climate change.
Examples of successful AFIs include Solo, a low-cost quadruped robot, a roadster powered by the low-cost rotary Wankel engine, low-cost MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) developed by researchers at the Harvard Medical School, a one-dollar hearing aid, and a hand-operated washing machine.
The author explains why AFIs are significantly different from grassroots frugal innovations (GFIs) or Jugaad, because the former are not makeshift in nature like the latter. Advanced frugal innovations stress on their superior quality, while not crimping on functionality, that are also affordable. In short, AFIs need engineering through most accurate scientific tools to achieve enhanced quality from scarce resources while keeping a keen focus on costs! Achieving this trio of objectives in a product in a given sector is challenging and hence AFIs entail a lot of research to hone in on the right design.
AFIs also appeared in the form of diagnostic tools, ventilators, and vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are also finding their way into artificial intelligence and computers with frugal computing. Frugal engineering could also combat poverty by focusing on sustainability.
The author strongly supports frugal engineering and AFIs are already found in nearly every sector of industrial activity such as healthcare, automotive, and astronomy. Moreover, AFIs require cutting edge research and development, and this trend will continue since climate change has serious ramifications for our existence in this world. Therefore, the world should embrace AFIs in various sectors.
This is an interesting read, and should be on most people’s reading list if you want to know about the future of manufacturing and engineering.
Article by Akshay Anantharaman
Click here for the original link to the paper
Click here for the link to the book on frugal engineering
