From benchtop to bedroom : how frugal innovation practices can drive innovation within the condom industry

This chapter discusses the urgent needs for innovation in the condom industry and highlights the role that frugal innovation (FI) theory can play in changing the legacies of condom materials and manufacturing. Condoms are unique, being the only medical device that can simultaneously prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. The most successful FIs are not only low cost or "good-enough", but outperform the alternative, and can be made available at large scale. Condom innovation like Geldom can shift the market to support the delicate interplay between commercial sales-of which there are large growth opportunities in developing world markets-and free or subsidised condoms in a total market approach. Condom use in resource-limited settings more likely happens when people can reach them at little-to-no cost, and the supply chain can be strengthened by applying a total market approach that combines public sector distribution, social marketing, and private sector sale.