Belgium’s receptiveness to integrate foreign frugal innovations in its healthcare

This research examines how receptive the Belgian healthcare is towards the integration of foreign frugal innovations. It aims to shed a light on the relevancy of these theoretical concepts by confronting them to the field reality – where the entrepreneur scrambles to diffuse innovation in the middle of complex interactions that stakeholders have. The methods of analysis consist in a mix of quantitative and qualitative researches and the use of a set of innovations that emerged as a response to COVID-19 across the world. Once their frugality assessed, the potential transferability of these FIs is evaluated by panels of experts and entrepreneurs, in terms of reversibility and commercial potential. Ultimately, the objective is to explore why such innovations are likely to be integrated in Belgian healthcare. The results display that the paradigms are relevant as 3 FIs are deemed promising. Moreover, the testing of a literature hypothesis stating that innovations from developing countries suffer from negative image and judgment, hence hindering their diffusion in western markets, has not been conclusive. Conversely, the findings suggest that Belgian healthcare is characterized by a complex institutional and regulatory structure, which increases the cost to innovate. Additionally, several results demonstrated that if an innovation brings novelty or fills a gap, there are less chances of it being feasible for entrepreneurs. It exposes the structural conservatism of the Belgian system towards innovation, with actors having no incentives to improve efficiency and living in the fear of changes, and thus progress. To adjust this, the research suggests a reform to adopt managerial approaches to increase sensitivity to performance. Moreover, the creation of international entrepreneurs’ networks appears to be a conceivable way to fasten innovation cycles, drive open innovation, and induce change to bring a better answer to the universal need – health.