Here is one way innovation is being used to improve the lives of people with less resources on our planet...
People centred innovation with base of the pyramid
The Denmark-based Center for Sustainable Innovation (blog) is embarking on a new combined research and consultancy project about People Centred Innovation with Base of the Pyramid.
The project, which is funded by the Danish Network for Research Based Userdriven Innovation - NfBI, will be exploring how to create new products and business models to improve the life of the half of the world’s population that is getting by on less than 4 USD a day (in comparative purchasing power as if they were living in the US), and how to put people first and include their needs and aspirations, and their knowledge and resources in this [which the UN calls Growing Inclusive Markets].
Aside from the forementioned Center, other entities involved are SPIRE - Research Center for Participatory Innovation at University of Southern Denmark, and the Danish company Danisco, that provides bio-based solutions for food ingredients and other stuff and is exploring how it can develop products and business models that will improve the nutrition and income of people in the rural areas of India.
According to a blog post by Louise Koch of the Center for Sustainable Innovation, the research project aims are:
- To map the existing field of knowledge and methods for people centred innovation with BoP
- To identify the key challenges and opportunities for companies in identifying and incorporating peoples needs and aspirations in innovation with BoP
- To sketch a methodology for a people centred approach for innovation with Base of the Pyramid.
Source: http://www.experientia.com/blog/people-centred-innovation-with-base-of-the-pyramid/