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<p><b>Technology readiness levels</b> (<b>TRLs</b>) are a method for estimating the <a href="Technology_maturity" class="mw-redirect" title="Technology maturity">maturity</a> of technologies during the acquisition phase of a program. TRLs enable consistent and uniform discussions of technical maturity across different types of technology.<sup id="cite_ref-NASA_to_EU_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NASA_to_EU-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> TRL is determined during a <b>technology readiness assessment</b> (<b>TRA</b>) that examines program concepts, technology requirements, and demonstrated technology capabilities. TRLs are based on a scale from 1 to 9 with 9 being the most mature technology.<sup id="cite_ref-NASA_to_EU_1-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NASA_to_EU-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>TRL was developed at <a href="NASA" title="NASA">NASA</a> during the 1970s. The <a href="United_States_Department_of_Defense" title="United States Department of Defense">US Department of Defense</a> has used the scale for procurement since the early 2000s. By 2008 the scale was also in use at the <a href="European_Space_Agency" title="European Space Agency">European Space Agency</a> (ESA).<sup id="cite_ref-ESA08_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ESA08-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
The <a href="European_Commission" title="European Commission">European Commission</a> advised EU-funded research and innovation projects to adopt the scale in 2010.<sup id="cite_ref-NASA_to_EU_1-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NASA_to_EU-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> TRLs were consequently used in 2014 in the EU <a href="Horizon_2020" class="mw-redirect" title="Horizon 2020">Horizon 2020 program</a>. In 2013, the TRL scale was further canonized by the <a href="International_Organization_for_Standardization" title="International Organization for Standardization">International Organization for Standardization</a> (ISO) with the publication of the <b>ISO 16290:2013</b> standard.<sup id="cite_ref-NASA_to_EU_1-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NASA_to_EU-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>A comprehensive approach and discussion of TRLs has been published by the European Association of Research and Technology Organisations (EARTO).<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Extensive criticism of the adoption of TRL scale by the <a href="European_Union" title="European Union">European Union</a> was published in The Innovation Journal, stating that the "concreteness and sophistication of the TRL scale gradually diminished as its usage spread outside its original context (space programs)".<sup id="cite_ref-NASA_to_EU_1-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NASA_to_EU-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<meta property="mw:PageProp/toc">
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Definitions">Definitions</h2></div>
<table class="wikitable">
<tbody><tr>
<th>TRL</th>
<th>NASA usage<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></th>
<th>European Union<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</th></tr>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Basic principles observed and reported</td>
<td>Basic principles observed
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Technology concept and/or application formulated</td>
<td>Technology concept formulated
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof-of concept</td>
<td>Experimental proof of concept
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Component and/or breadboard validation in laboratory environment</td>
<td>Technology validated in lab
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Component and/or breadboard validation in relevant environment</td>
<td>Technology validated in relevant environment (industrially relevant environment in the case of key enabling technologies)
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>System/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment (ground or space)</td>
<td>Technology demonstrated in relevant environment (industrially relevant environment in the case of key enabling technologies)
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>System prototype demonstration in a space environment</td>
<td>System prototype demonstration in operational environment
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>Actual system completed and "flight qualified" through test and demonstration (ground or space)</td>
<td>System complete and qualified
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>Actual system "flight proven" through successful mission operations</td>
<td>Actual system proven in operational environment (competitive manufacturing in the case of key enabling technologies; or in space)
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p><br>
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Assessment_tools">Assessment tools</h2></div>
<p>A <i>Technology Readiness Level Calculator</i> was developed by the <a href="United_States_Air_Force" title="United States Air Force">United States Air Force</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This tool is a standard set of questions implemented in <a href="Microsoft_Excel" title="Microsoft Excel">Microsoft Excel</a> that produces a graphical display of the TRLs achieved. This tool is intended to provide a snapshot of technology maturity at a given point in time.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>The Defense Acquisition University (DAU) Decision Point (DP) Tool originally named the <i>Technology Program Management Model</i> was developed by the <a href="United_States_Army" title="United States Army">United States Army</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and later adopted by the DAU. The DP/TPMM is a TRL-gated high-fidelity activity model that provides a flexible management tool to assist Technology Managers in planning, managing, and assessing their technologies for successful technology transition. The model provides a core set of activities including <a href="Systems_engineering" title="Systems engineering">systems engineering</a> and <a href="Program_management" title="Program management">program management</a> tasks that are tailored to the technology development and management goals. This approach is comprehensive, yet it consolidates the complex activities that are relevant to the development and transition of a specific technology program into one integrated model.<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Uses">Uses</h2></div>
<p>The primary purpose of using technology readiness levels is to help management in making decisions concerning the development and transitioning of technology. It is one of several tools that are needed to manage the progress of research and development activity within an organization.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>Among the advantages of TRLs:<sup id="cite_ref-hfidtc_11-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-hfidtc-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<ul><li>Provides a common understanding of technology status</li>
<li>Risk management</li>
<li>Used to make decisions concerning technology funding</li>
<li>Used to make decisions concerning transition of technology</li></ul>
<p>Some of the characteristics of TRLs that limit their utility:<sup id="cite_ref-hfidtc_11-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-hfidtc-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<ul><li>Readiness does not necessarily fit with appropriateness or technology maturity</li>
<li>A mature product may possess a greater or lesser degree of readiness for use in a particular system context than one of lower maturity</li>
<li>Numerous factors must be considered, including the relevance of the products' operational environment to the system at hand, as well as the product-system architectural mismatch</li></ul>
<p>TRL models tend to disregard negative and obsolescence factors. There have been suggestions made for incorporating such factors into assessments.<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>For complex technologies that incorporate various development stages, a more detailed scheme called the Technology Readiness Pathway Matrix has been developed going from basic units to applications in society. This tool aims to show that a readiness level of a technology is based on a less linear process but on a more complex pathway through its application in society.<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History">History</h2></div>
<p>Technology readiness levels were conceived at NASA in 1974 and formally defined in 1989. The original definition included seven levels, but in the 1990s NASA adopted the nine-level scale that subsequently gained widespread acceptance.<sup id="cite_ref-TRL_Demystified_14-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-TRL_Demystified-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p><b>Original NASA TRL Definitions (1989)</b><sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<dl><dd>Level 1 – Basic Principles Observed and Reported</dd>
<dd>Level 2 – Potential Application Validated</dd>
<dd>Level 3 – Proof-of-Concept Demonstrated, Analytically and/or Experimentally</dd>
<dd>Level 4 – Component and/or <a href="Breadboard" title="Breadboard">Breadboard</a> Laboratory Validated</dd>
<dd>Level 5 – Component and/or Breadboard Validated in Simulated or Realspace Environment</dd>
<dd>Level 6 – System Adequacy Validated in Simulated Environment</dd>
<dd>Level 7 – System Adequacy Validated in Space</dd></dl>
<p>The TRL methodology was originated by Stan Sadin at NASA Headquarters in 1974.<sup id="cite_ref-TRL_Demystified_14-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-TRL_Demystified-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Ray Chase was then the JPL Propulsion Division representative on the Jupiter Orbiter design team. At the suggestion of Stan Sadin, Chase used this methodology to assess the technology readiness of the proposed JPL Jupiter Orbiter spacecraft design. Later Chase spent a year at NASA Headquarters helping Sadin institutionalize the TRL methodology. Chase joined ANSER in 1978, where he used the TRL methodology to evaluate the technology readiness of proposed Air Force development programs. He published several articles during the 1980s and 90s on reusable launch vehicles utilizing the TRL methodology.<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>These documented an expanded version of the methodology that included design tools, test facilities, and manufacturing readiness on the Air Force Have Not program. The Have Not program manager, Greg Jenkins, and Ray Chase published the expanded version of the TRL methodology, which included design and manufacturing. Leon McKinney and Chase used the expanded version to assess the technology readiness of the ANSER team's Highly Reusable Space Transportation (HRST) concept.<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> ANSER also created an adapted version of the TRL methodology for proposed Homeland Security Agency programs.<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>The <a href="United_States_Air_Force" title="United States Air Force">United States Air Force</a> adopted the use of technology readiness levels in the 1990s.
</p><p>In 1995, <a href="John_C._Mankins" title="John C. Mankins">John C. Mankins</a>, NASA, wrote a paper that discussed NASA's use of TRL, extended the scale, and proposed expanded descriptions for each TRL.<sup id="cite_ref-NASA_to_EU_1-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NASA_to_EU-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In 1999, the United States <a href="General_Accounting_Office" class="mw-redirect" title="General Accounting Office">General Accounting Office</a> produced an influential report<sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> that examined the differences in <a href="Technology_transfer" title="Technology transfer">technology transition</a> between the DOD and private industry. It concluded that the DOD takes greater risks and attempts to transition emerging technologies at lesser degrees of maturity than does private industry. The GAO concluded that use of immature technology increased overall program risk. The GAO recommended that the DOD make wider use of technology readiness levels as a means of assessing technology maturity prior to transition.<sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>In 2001, the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology issued a memorandum that endorsed use of TRLs in new major programs. Guidance for assessing technology maturity was incorporated into the <i>Defense Acquisition Guidebook</i>.<sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Subsequently, the DOD developed detailed guidance for using TRLs in the 2003 DOD Technology Readiness Assessment Deskbook.
</p><p>Because of their relevance to Habitation, 'Habitation Readiness Levels (HRL)' were formed by a group of NASA engineers (Jan Connolly, Kathy Daues, Robert Howard, and Larry Toups). They have been created to address habitability requirements and design aspects in correlation with already established and widely used standards by different agencies, including NASA TRLs.<sup id="cite_ref-22" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>22<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-23"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>23<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>More recently, Dr. Ali Abbas, Professor of chemical engineering and Associate Dean of Research at the University of Sydney and Dr. Mobin Nomvar, a chemical engineer and commercialisation specialist, have developed Commercial Readiness Level (CRL), a nine-point scale to be synchronised with TRL as part of a critical innovation path to rapidly assess and refine innovation projects to ensure market adoption and avoid failure.<sup id="cite_ref-24" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-24"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>24<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="In_the_European_Union">In the European Union</h3></div>
<p>The European Space Agency<sup id="cite_ref-NASA_to_EU_1-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NASA_to_EU-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> adopted the TRL scale in the mid-2000s. Its handbook<sup id="cite_ref-ESA08_2-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ESA08-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> closely follows the NASA definition of TRLs. In 2022, the <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://trlcalculator.esa.int/">ESA TRL Calculator</a> was released to the public. The universal usage of TRL in EU policy was proposed in the final report of the first High Level Expert Group on Key Enabling Technologies,<sup id="cite_ref-25" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and it was implemented in the subsequent EU framework program, called <a href="Framework_Programmes_for_Research_and_Technological_Development#Horizon_2020" title="Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development">Horizon 2020</a>, running from 2013 to 2020,<sup id="cite_ref-NASA_to_EU_1-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NASA_to_EU-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and has been retained in the EU's following framework programs. This means it is applied not only to space and weapons programs, but everything from nanotechnology to informatics and communication technology.
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2></div>
<ul><li><a href="Capability_Maturity_Model_Integration" title="Capability Maturity Model Integration">Capability Maturity Model Integration</a> – Process level improvement training and appraisal program</li>
<li><a href="List_of_emerging_technologies" title="List of emerging technologies">List of emerging technologies</a> – New technologies actively in development</li>
<li><a href="Manufacturing_readiness_level" title="Manufacturing readiness level">Manufacturing readiness level</a> – Method for estimating the maturity of manufacturing</li>
<li><a href="Open_innovation" title="Open innovation">Open innovation</a> – Term for external cooperation in innovation</li>
<li><a href="Technology_assessment" title="Technology assessment">Technology assessment</a> – Research area dealing with trends in science and technology and related social developments</li>
<li><a href="Technology_life_cycle" title="Technology life cycle">Technology life cycle</a> – Development, ascent, maturity, and decline of new technologies</li>
<li><a href="Technology_transfer" title="Technology transfer">Technology transfer</a> – Process of disseminating technology</li></ul>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2></div>
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<li id="cite_note-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-19">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210224141905/https://www.gao.gov/archive/1999/ns991620.pdf">"Best Practices: Better Management of Technology Can Improve Weapon System Outcomes"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. <a href="General_Accounting_Office" class="mw-redirect" title="General Accounting Office">General Accounting Office</a>. July 1999. GAO/NSIAD-99-162. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.gao.gov/archive/1999/ns991620.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on 2021-02-24<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2018-08-28</span></span>.</cite></span>
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<li id="cite_note-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-20">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://at.dod.mil/docs/DefenseAcquisitionGuidebook.pdf"><i>Defense Acquisition Guidebook</i></a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120425232741/http://at.dod.mil/docs/DefenseAcquisitionGuidebook.pdf">Archived</a> 2012-04-25 at the <a href="Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></span>
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<li id="cite_note-21"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-21">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://at.dod.mil/docs/DefenseAcquisitionGuidebook.pdf"><i>Defense Acquisition Guidebook</i></a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120425232741/http://at.dod.mil/docs/DefenseAcquisitionGuidebook.pdf">Archived</a> 2012-04-25 at the <a href="Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></span>
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<li id="cite_note-22"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-22">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFHäuplik-Meusburger_and_Bannova2016" class="citation book cs1">Häuplik-Meusburger and Bannova (2016). <i>Space Architecture Education for Engineers and Architects</i>. Springer. <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>978-3-319-19278-9</bdi>.</cite></span>
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<li id="cite_note-23"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-23">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFCohen2012" class="citation conference cs1">Cohen, Marc (2012). <i>Mockups 101: Code and Standard Research for Space Habitat Analogues</i>. AIAA Space 2012 Conference Pasadena, California.</cite></span>
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<li id="cite_note-24"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-24">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation magazine cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.aumanufacturing.com.au/better-management-of-innovation-and-commercialisation-by-mobin-monvar">"Better Management of Commercialisation and Innovation"</a>. <i>Australian Manufacturing</i>.</cite></span>
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<li id="cite_note-25"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-25">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://ec.europa.eu/DocsRoom/documents/11283/attachments/1/translations/en/renditions/native">"High-Level Expert Group on Key Enabling Technologies – Final Report"</a>. June 2011. p. 31<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">March 16,</span> 2020</span>.</cite></span>
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</ol></div></div>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Online">Online</h3></div>
<ul><li><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.gao.gov/products/nsiad-99-162">"Best Practices: Better Management of Technology Development Can Improve Weapon System Outcomes"</a>. U.S. Government Accountability Office. July 1999. NSIAD-99-162.</cite></li>
<li><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-02-39">"Joint Strike Fighter Acquisition: Mature Critical Technologies Needed to Reduce Risks"</a>. U.S. Government Accountability Office. October 2001. GAO-02-39.</cite></li></ul>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2></div>
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<div class="side-box-text plainlist">Wikimedia Commons has media related to <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Technology_readiness_level" class="extiw external" title="commons:Category:Technology readiness level">Technology readiness level</a></span>.</div></div>
</div>
<ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/heo/scan/engineering/technology/technology_readiness_level">Technology Readiness Levels (TRL)</a> <a href="NASA" title="NASA">NASA</a></li>
<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20051206035043/http://as.nasa.gov/aboutus/trl-introduction.html">Technology Readiness Levels Introduction</a> <a href="NASA" title="NASA">NASA</a> archive via <a href="Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></li>
<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120608083705/http://exchange.dnv.com/publishing/Codes/ToC_edition.asp#Recommended_Practices">DNV Recommended_Practices (Look for DNV-RP-A203)</a></li>
<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081222144442/http://www.aof.mod.uk/aofcontent/tactical/techman/content/trl_whatarethey.htm">UK MoD Acquisition Operating Framework guide to TRL (requires registration)</a></li></ul>
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<ul><li><a href="Automation" title="Automation">Automation</a></li>
<li><a href="Collingridge_dilemma" title="Collingridge dilemma">Collingridge dilemma</a></li>
<li><a href="Differential_technological_development" title="Differential technological development">Differential technological development</a></li>
<li><a href="Disruptive_innovation" title="Disruptive innovation">Disruptive innovation</a></li>
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<li><a href="Exploratory_engineering" title="Exploratory engineering">Exploratory engineering</a></li>
<li><a href="Proactionary_principle" title="Proactionary principle">Proactionary principle</a></li>
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