From Concept–Knowledge (C-K) and Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) to Net Technological Assessment (NTA): Structured Decision-Making for the European Green Deal

This chapter examines how governments can align digital innovation with the European Green Deal. Technical strategies—such as shutting down unused components, adapting performance to demand, or reducing communication overhead—illustrate sustainability at the system level, but they do not solve the challenge of prioritizing technologies under policy, budget, and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) constraints. Formal innovation methods like Concept–Knowledge (C-K) theory and Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ)support structured exploration but remain insufficient for governmental decision-making. The chapter, therefore, introduces Net Technological Assessment (NTA) as its core contribution: a novel framework that integrates maturity, investment potential, and sustainability weighting to translate innovation options into accountable, Green Deal–aligned policy choices.