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Reverse Innovation for Affordable and Clean Energy

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Affordable and Clean Energy

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals ((ENUNSDG))

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Synonyms

Frugal innovation; Trickle-up innovation

Definition

The term “reverse innovation” describes an innovation first developed, tested, and used successfully in developing countries, before it is adopted (intentionally or otherwise) in more developed countries. “Reverse” innovation is so-called to reflect a reversal of the traditional and more widely acknowledged approach to innovation, which relies on the mainstream markets, infrastructure, and creativity of western countries as innovation loci. “Energy frugality” refers to the use of reverse innovation to create and distribute solutions to energy poverty (Ahonen 2015).

Introduction

In this entry, the concept of reverse innovation is discussed in the context of providing affordable and clean energy solutions in developing countries. Usually, multinational corporations (MNCs) adapt products already established and available in more developed markets to make them suitable for developing markets. The MNCs remove certain features and...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Queensland, UQ Business School, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Cle-Anne Gabriel

Authors
  1. Cle-Anne Gabriel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cle-Anne Gabriel .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. European School of Sustainability, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Walter Leal Filho

  2. Center for Neuroscience & Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Anabela Marisa Azul

  3. Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Passo Fundo University Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Passo Fundo, Brazil

    Luciana Brandli

  4. HAW Hamburg, Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Amanda Lange Salvia

  5. International Centre for Thriving, University of Chester, Chester, UK

    Tony Wall

Section Editor information

  1. University of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil

    Luciana Londero Brandli

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Gabriel, CA. (2021). Reverse Innovation for Affordable and Clean Energy. In: Leal Filho, W., Azul, A.M., Brandli, L., Lange Salvia, A., Wall, T. (eds) Affordable and Clean Energy. Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71057-0_29-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71057-0_29-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-71057-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-71057-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Earth and Environm. ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Earth and Environmental Sciences

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