Technology Readiness Level
Use TRL 6-7
Test TRL 4
Design
Develop TRL 5
NASA developed the Technology Readiness Level( TRL) scale to assess the maturity of a technology, concept, product, or service. The EU introduced TRLs in EUfunded projects in 2012 and recommends using them to evaluate the maturity of research and solutions developed within projects.
The Interreg Aurora program excludes the lower TRLs( 1-3), which cover basic research, and the higher TRLs( 8-9), which focus on commercialization. The lowest levels involve identifying a problem, establishing basic principles for a solution, developing a concept, and experimentally testing critical functions. The highest levels, 8-9, include a complete solution that has been successfully tested in business operations. This project focuses on TRL 4-7, which are typical stages for applied research. TRL 4 involves research in a laboratory setting; TRL 5 focuses on validating concepts in a relevant environment; TRL 6 centers on demonstrating in a realistic environment; and TRL 7 includes demonstrating a prototype in a realistic environment. In our case study demonstrations, representatives from the target group have been invited to participate.
The readiness assessment focuses on the preparedness of results for market adoption and investment. In EU examples, the TRL scale is suggested to be redesigned to fit each project’ s content.
Prototype development in case studies began at TRL 4 and generally progressed to TRL 6 or 7. At that level, the innovative prototypes have implications for advancing the ideas further along the scale, essentially determining what is needed to become new commercial services. For example, deploying the drone flight show commercially requires additional programming and regulations that allow flights over people. Updating regulations and standards for drone operations is also essential for other UAV-based solutions. Similarly, the use of UGVs also requires updates to regulations and standards. Some suggestions, such as learning to play guitar online, could prove successful, but scaling up the solutions requires extensive programming. Currently, the lack of an established business model or company for some innovative solutions makes implementation a longterm challenge.