frugal innovation

Writing this summer? Please cite Clovia Hamilton’s research!

Cite Clovia Hamilton’s research (smile)! Professor Clovia Hamilton loves research and I am very proud of this body of research developed over the course of more than 20 years! If you are writing this summer, please cite Clovia Hamilton’s research! black male researcher writing

Lay summaries

Writing This Summer? Cite Clovia Hamilton’s Research!

If you’re writing this summer—whether it’s a journal article, conference paper, blog post, or policy brief—please consider citing the work of Professor Clovia Hamilton. With over 20 years of scholarship spanning AI ethics, data privacy, intellectual property, and diversity in STEM, her research offers a rich foundation for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers alike.

Why Clovia Hamilton’s Work Matters

Professor Hamilton’s research is grounded in real-world challenges and offers actionable insights. Her scholarship addresses some of today’s most pressing issues, including:

The ethical deployment of AI and robotics in law enforcement
Sustainable cryptocurrency practices
Inclusive innovation and entrepreneurship
University technology transfer and commercialization
Intellectual property rights and antitrust policy

Her work is not only academically rigorous but also deeply committed to social justice, equity, and sustainability.

Highlights from Her Research Portfolio

One standout publication is her 2024 article in the DePaul Business & Commercial Law Journal, titled “Money is Morphing.” In it, Hamilton explores how cryptocurrency could evolve into an environmentally and financially sustainable alternative to traditional banking. She reviews 201 publications from 2013 to 2022 and offers ten policy recommendations for crypto companies, including signing the Crypto Climate Accord, using renewable energy, and supporting unbanked communities.

Transitioning from fintech to public safety, Hamilton’s 2023 co-authored paper on smart policing—presented at the American Society for Engineering Management Conference—examines the ethical and cybersecurity implications of deploying robocops. The study recommends transparency, robust data analysis capabilities, and the appointment of AI ethics czars to oversee implementation.

Bridging Technology and Social Equity

Hamilton’s work also shines in the realm of diversity and inclusion. Her 2020 article in the Applied Management Journal, “Increasing Diversity among Women Entrepreneurs in High Growth High Tech Using HBCU Female Academic Entrepreneurs,” outlines how Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) can enhance tech transfer and entrepreneurship among women faculty. She proposes model IP policies and highlights the importance of resource allocation and institutional support.

In another compelling piece, “Black Americans Past and Present Created Frugal Innovations,” Hamilton challenges dominant narratives in innovation studies by documenting how Black Americans have long practiced frugal innovation and circular economy principles—often without recognition.

A Call to Action for Scholars and Writers

Whether you’re researching AI governance, sustainable finance, or inclusive innovation, Professor Hamilton’s work offers a wealth of knowledge. Her publications span peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, black female researcher writing and book chapters, making them accessible across disciplines.

As you write this summer, take a moment to explore and cite her research. Doing so not only strengthens your own work but also helps amplify the voices of scholars committed to equity, sustainability, and ethical innovation.

You can find her full list of publications at cloviahamilton.com

If you are writing this summer, please cite Dr. Clovia Hamilton’s research!

Summer 2024

Appropriation of artisans’ intellectual property: Piracy disguised as giving back?

Creative Industries

Creative industries are industries focused on the creation, exploitation and appropriation of artisans’ intellectual property, including art, fashion design, and related creative services, such as advertisement and sales. During a trip to Burkina Faso in West Africa, Keri Fosse was taught by an African woman how to wrap African artisan fashion accessory crafts newborns with fabric in a manner that creates a strong bond and frees the mother’s hands for other tasks.

Craft culture

Burkina Faso has a craft culture and is known for its woven cotton and the textile art of Bogolan. Bogolan is a technique original to and involves the tradition of dyeing threads with bright colors, washing it skillfully, using coated and shiny Bazin, and using indigo from Benin. After this trip, Fosse and her husband developed a shirt which copies the African lady’s, Lalabu’s, technique.

They developed a product called Soothe Shirt; and created a business called Lalabu. Lalabu is also the name of the African woman that the Fosses met. They have been successful. The Fosses have stated that they got the idea from Lalabu, but redesigned it for production. The couple advertises that they “giving back” by giving 2% percent of each purchase to help female African entrepreneurs through microfinancing.

Intellectual property piracy

The Fosses claim that when African women repay their micro-loans, the women reinvest the money into the loan fund. This study argues that such practices do not reflect socially responsible entrepreneurship. Instead, they represent intellectual property piracy. The following sections discuss the relevant legal and theoretical foundations, along with current best practices. However, these practices often lack shared ownership. While Americans may commonly appropriate artisans’ intellectual property within the U.S., their appropriation of cultural crafts from other countries demands closer scrutiny and accountability.

Introduction

black frugal innovations George Washington Carver

Black frugal innovator George Washington Carver at Tuskegee Institute HBCU

This article advocates that Black American frugal innovators were slaves and freed slaves. They embraced circular economy principles. Frugal innovation occurs when the rich make use of innovations developed in poor countries. There is purportedly a current rivalry between India and China in the frugal innovation arena. This research advocates that the concept of frugal innovation did not originate in Asia or India.

The practice of the rich taking the poor’s innovations is not new. In particular, Black American slaves and freed slaves developed a number of inventions in poverty conditions. It is imperative that frugal innovation research be more historically accurate. This research reduces the marginalization of contributions developed by poor innovators. This increases the more widespread embrace of circular economy principles. If a poor innovator resides in a rich country, then that innovator should not be excluded from the frugal innovator category. To sum up, Black innovators; use of frugality to innovate is pertinent.

North American, Indian and Asian poor

Arguably, Black American inventors during slavery and the reconstruction period post-slavery were indeed frugal innovators. Further, these frugal innovators also embraced circular economy principles. The current scholarship emphasizes frugal innovations originating in India and Asia. These are not the only races of people that are frugal innovators. This current notion is harmful. Perhaps much can be gained in achieving the mainstream implementation of circular economy principles if more diverse populations of frugal innovators were identified. Research on other populations that are frugal out of necessity is necessary. These populations need to be equally marketed and promoted.

In addition to recognizing the frugal innovations that are being developed in rural developing countries, it is important to recognize the contributions of Black frugal innovators. Doing so may help inspire young people to follow this path. Carrying this torch from generation to generation may bolster the sustainability of the frugal innovation movement. Read more here…

and HBCU budget resource planning for university technology transfer