Technology Readiness Levels
Developed by NASA in the 1970s, Technology Readiness Level assessments allow technologies to be uniformly and consistently mapped to maturity levels, regardless of the technologies purpose or respective scientific field or basis.
TRL 1: Basic principles observed and reported
TRL 2: Technology concept or application formulated
TRL 3: Analytical and experimental critical function or characteristic proof-of-concept
TRL 4: Technology basic validation in a laboratory environment
TRL 5: Technology basic validation in a relevant environment
TRL 6: Technology model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment
TRL 7: Technology prototype demonstration in an operational environment
TRL 8: Actual technology completed and qualified through test and demonstration
TRL 9: Actual technology qualified through successful mission operations
KTH Innovation Readiness Level
Based originally on the Technology Readiness Level devised by NASA, the KTH Innovation Readiness Level is a 6-point map of a company’s, and technology’s, overall readiness for market, with a focus on the early stages of developing and verifying an innovation.
The readiness levels are:
- Funding Readiness Level – Secure the necessary funding to take the idea to market
- Customer Readiness Level – Confirm customer need and interest
- Technology Readiness Level – Develop and test the technology, product, service, or concept
- Business Model Readiness Level – Establish that the concept can be financially, environmentally, and socially viable and feasible
- Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Readiness Level – Clarify the legal and IP status, and secure relevant IP protection
- Team Readiness Level – Secure the right competencies and align the team
Each Readiness Level (RL) is a 9-point scale of criteria to meet at different stages of development and readiness. In practice, each criterion will be a group of activities and actions that need to be achieved prior to moving onto the next stage.
This graphic shows an example of the KTH Readiness Level model – There is a blank version on the left, and a “completed” version on the right.
You can read more here:
Commercial Readiness Level
Developed by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to assess the proximity to commercial output, and commercial viability of technologies.
CRL 1: Hypothetical commercial proposition – Technology is technically feasible but lacks verifiable commercial data
CRL 2: Commercial trial, small scale – First-of-its-kind project, typically supported by equity and government funding, with limited public data
CRL 3: Commercial scale-up – Technology is scaling up with specific policy support and emerging debt financing
CRL 4: Multiple commercial applications – Technology is deployed in multiple contexts, often with subsidies, and supported by public performance data
CRL 5: Market competition – Competition drives widespread deployment, with commoditisation of components and financial products.
CRL 6: Bankable asset class – Technology is fully mature, with established standards and minimal market or technology risks influencing investment decisions
Business Readiness Level
BRL 1: Unclear on possible business idea, potential and competition
BRL 2: First hypothesis of business concept
BRL 3: Description of sustainable business model
BRL 4: First calculation indicating economically viable business model
BRL 5: Key assumptions in sustainable business model tested
BRL 6: Full sustainable business model tested on customers
BRL 7: Viability of sustainable business model validated by initial sales
BRL 8: Sales and metrics show that sustainable business model holds
BRL 9: Sustainable business model proven to meet internal and external expectations on profit, scalability, and impact over time
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