A patent-based approach to identify ICT opportunities for green ICT innovation

The growing importance of sustainable development and eco-innovation has brought increasing attention to the role of ICT (information and communication technology) that facilitates green ICT innovation. This study proposes a novel patent-based framework to identify ICT opportunities for green ICT innovation. First, a hierarchical classification system for ET (environmental technology) and ICT is defined and green ICT patents co-classified in both domains are collected. Second, co-classification matrices are constructed by applying patent co-classification analysis. Third, cross-impact matrices are constructed with patent-based CIA (cross-impact analysis). Fourth, the importance and importance growth rates of ICTs are constructed through employing ANP (analytic network process). Finally, a portfolio map is constructed to categorize ICTs into four opportunity groups: attractive, emerging, separated, and saturated. The study provides theoretical, methodological, and managerial implications for green ICT development and policy.