The Quantitative Mapping of Frugal Innovation Practices in Startups from Alagoas

A Multidimensional Data Analysis

Authors

Keywords:

Frugal Innovation, Startups, Alagoas, Multidimensional Scaling (MDS)

Abstract

This paper examines frugal innovation practices in startups from Alagoas, Brazil, using multidimensional scaling (MDS). A survey of 40 startups, based on key frugality constructs, was analyzed with SPSS (PROXSCAL) and AI tools (Python/R – SMACOF). The two-dimensional perceptual maps showed low stress and high explanatory power. Results highlight two main axes: social inclusion and accessibility; sustainability and resource efficiency. Findings indicate that startups prioritize low-cost, iterative solutions, but still show gaps in fully addressing productive inclusion.

Author Biographies

David Lins, Federal University of Alagoas

Technician in Mechanics, graduated from the Federal Institute of Alagoas (IFAL), and undergraduate student in Economics at the Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL). Researcher in the fields of Industrial Technology, Technological Innovation, Data Analysis, Welfare Economics, Natural Language Processing, Trade Relations, Communication, Market Studies, and Intellectual Property.

Victor Heuer, Federal University of Alagoas

Adjunct Professor at the Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL), leader and founder of the Group of Engineering in Decision-Making and Artificial Intelligence (GEDAI.UFAL). He works in the Professional Master’s Program in Public Administration (PROFIAP), and in the Graduate Specialization (Lato Sensu) in Project Management at the School of Economics, Administration, and Accounting (FEAC) at UFAL. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems from UFAL (2012), a Master’s degree (2014), and a PhD (2023) in Production Engineering from the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE).He served as Vice-Coordinator of the Undergraduate Program in Production Engineering at UFAL’s Sertão Campus (2016–2017), being a full member of the program board during 2016–2017 and an alternate member in 2018–2019. He was also an alternate member of the board of the Civil Engineering undergraduate program at the same campus between 2016–2017 and 2018–2019. He coordinated the Entrepreneurial Education Program under Agreement No. 12/2014 between SEBRAE and UFAL (2016–2017). He also coordinated the Information Technology Center (NTI) at UFAL’s Sertão Campus from 2016 to 2017.He has been project coordinator for initiatives funded through calls such as CNPq/SEMPI/MCTI/FNDCT Call No. 54/2022 – Track B – Regional projects to be developed in ICTs (Pro-TIC AI) and CNPq/MCTI/SEMPI Call No. 56/2022 – Support for Undergraduate Thesis Development in Artificial Intelligence (Pro-TCC in AI). He coordinates a project approved under UFAL’s Technological Initiation Scholarship Program (PIBITI) for the 2024–2025 biennium. He is also a member of research teams in other projects funded by CNPq, developed at the Federal University of Pará (UFPA) and the Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid (UFERSA).He coordinates a technical cooperation agreement between UFAL and the startup Armatore Market + Science, aimed at developing intelligent tools for Public Security, with expansion into other application areas such as Marketing. He is a member of other research groups at UFAL and other universities: Decision-Making Processes (UFAL), Knowledge and Innovation Management Research Group (UFAL), Entrepreneurship, Decision, Analysis and Innovation in the Amazon (GEDAI Amazônia, UFPA), and the Center for Studies in Transport, Logistics and Naval Construction (NTC) at the Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM).He was project manager of the PNLD Digital Evidence-Based Project (MEC/SEB/FNDE), developed by the Center of Excellence in Social Technologies (NEES) at UFAL in 2022. He has published in several journals, including: Journal of Environmental Management, International Journal of Bank Marketing, Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, Benchmarking, Expert Systems, Sage Open, Information, Administrative Sciences, Academia – Revista Latinoamericana de Administración, International Journal of Decision Support System Technology, Urban Science, and Logistics.He also acts as a project reviewer for funding agencies such as the Research Support Foundation of the State of Alagoas (FAPEAL) and the Research Support Foundation of the State of Pernambuco (FACEPE). Additionally, he has served as a reviewer for several international scientific journals, including: Expert Systems, International Journal of Information Management (IJIM), Technology in Society, Information Processing & Management, PLoS One, International Journal of Public Administration, and IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management. He is a member of the editorial board of the journal Socioeconomic Analytics (UFPE).

Francisco Rosário, Federal University of Alagoas

Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Federal University of Alagoas (1994), Master’s degree in Administration from the Federal University of Alagoas (1999), and PhD in Economics of Industry and Technology from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (2008). Professor in the Master’s Program in Applied Economics at UFAL and in the Professional Master’s Program in Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property for Innovation (PROFNIT). He has experience in the field of Economics, with an emphasis on Industrial Organization and Industrial Studies, working with market analysis and innovation management.

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Published

2026-08-05

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 1 (2025): Proceedings of the III Workshop on Data Analysis

Section

Research Papers (Artigos Completos WANDA 2025)

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Copyright (c) 2026 David Lins, Victor Heuer, Francisco Rosário

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