ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the results of a trend analysis conducted as part of a project investigating the “Potentials, challenges and societal relevance of frugal innovations (FIs) in the context of global innovation competition” in Germany. Germany is known for its technological capabilities and a strong research and innovation system. Potential interview candidates were stakeholders from academic and research institutions, businesses, and civil society in Germany who had knowledge about FIs or related concepts such as sufficiency or simplicity movements. The demographic change might also increase poverty among senior citizens and simultaneously increase the importance of an affordable health-care system in Germany. German companies are faced with increasing pressures concerning cost and process efficiency in most industries. The preference for complexity-oriented solutions by engineers in German firms was considered an obstacle, as it could result in missing core needs and functions.
