Introduction
Developing a product requires input from multiple disciplines that extend beyond the scientific/research basis. Typically, researchers have thought a lot about how the product works but are less skilled and aware of many other requirements e.g:
how to manufacture that product at scale,
what costs they may encounter and
how to distribute their product to customers.
The TRL tool allows you to chart your progress through both the technical product development as well as consider the business development activities required to bring a product to market. We recommend repeating this process at key stages in your business development to ensure you don’t invest all your time into one aspect of your business, to the detriment of other areas.
The TRL tool requires a series of yes/no responses that relate to a range of technology development steps. To begin using the tool, navigate to each of the 3 sections (1. Technology Development, 2. Business Planning, and 3. Deployment), responding to each question using the buttons provided If the answer for a particular question is in doubt or is unclear, mark that question 'no'. If the question does not apply, answer 'NA'.
Once all three sections have been completed, click 'Finish' to see the results of the analysis. This page will show the progress towards each of the nine TRL's. From this it is possible to see the areas that may have been neglected to date through design or otherwise and highlights what needs to be completed to get to the position where the technology under development is ready for market.
Once on the end, you can print the results or send them by email.
Technology development, testing and validation
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Question
Answer
1-1
Have the basic scientific principles, which form the foundation of a new technology, been confirmed or reported elsewhere?
YES
NO
NA
1-2
Has your technology/concept been described in sufficient detail to define future applications?
YES
NO
NA
1-3
Have initial performance predictions of your technology been made?
YES
NO
NA
1-4
Have publications or other references that outline a new technology been evaluated?
YES
NO
NA
1-5
Has a prospective application been specified in sufficient detail to identify all necessary technological elements?
YES
NO
NA
1-6
Have predicted performances of all individual technology components been confirmed by repeated, rigorous and verifiable experiments or simulations in a laboratory environment?
YES
NO
NA
1-7
Has it been shown that all technology components will work together?
YES
NO
NA
1-8
Have you described real-world deployment in detail?
YES
NO
NA
1-9
Has your technology (including components) been investigated in a laboratory environment with the anticipated results?
YES
NO
NA
1-10
Has a detailed process which leads from a demonstration to an application been established?
YES
NO
NA
1-11
Has a laboratory environment been modified to approximate a real environment (= relevant environment), including the development of a testing protocol?
YES
NO
NA
1-12
Have demonstrations in a relevant environment – including individual and integrated testing of all key elements – produced anticipated results?
YES
NO
NA
1-13
Are test results in a relevant environment consistent with technical and economic viability?
YES
NO
NA
1-14
Is your technology described sufficiently to finalise a deployment strategy?
YES
NO
NA
1-15
Have all relevant test issues (including scaling up) been investigated and resolved?
YES
NO
NA
1-16
Has the operational performance (e.g. sensitivity, selectivity, etc.) of your technology been fully optimised in a relevant environment?
YES
NO
NA
1-17
Has it been shown, through repeated, rigorous and verifiable demonstrations, that your technology can function in a real environment?
YES
NO
NA
1-18
Has your technology performance been tested under critical/extreme conditions?
YES
NO
NA
1-19
Have you developed a deployment plan?
YES
NO
NA
1-20
Has your technology received satisfactory feedback after being tested by an end-user in a real environment?
YES
NO
NA
1-21
Have all verification, validation, and accreditation tests been completed?
YES
NO
NA
1-22
Has your technology been fully described in terms of conventional use and integration into customer systems?
YES
NO
NA
1-23
Has it been shown that your technology operates at levels of performance, cost, quality, reliability, etc. which have been specified in the business case?
YES
NO
NA
Draft Business Plan Toolning & market opportunity
Technology deployment and commercialisation