Davor Nikolić

A simple TRL self-assessment questionnaire for digital platforms. Answer yes or no for each level from TRL 1 to TRL 9 and see where your platform stands.

If you are developing a digital platform, such as a SaaS solution, a web or mobile app, or a B2B or B2G service, you are very likely to come across this question sooner or later: “What TRL are we at?”

Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) have become a standard tool in EU funds, innovation projects and conversations with investors.

Based on our work with digital projects, we have designed a simple TRL self-assessment questionnaire that also works for people without a technical background. You can use it internally, to prepare EU projects or for a structured conversation with partners and investors.

Please note that this questionnaire is not an official document or a source on the basis of which your actual TRL can be determined with complete certainty. It is an internal tool of Omnia Solutions d.o.o. for an indicative assessment of the technology readiness of digital platforms, which you use for your own purposes and at your own responsibility. Omnia Solutions d.o.o. accepts no liability for any inaccuracies or gaps in the self-assessment results, or for decisions made solely on the basis of this questionnaire.

What are TRLs and why do they matter?

TRL is a nine-level scale that describes the maturity of a technology, from the first idea and research, through prototypes and pilot projects, to a product used in a real environment. Under the conditions of many EU calls, the TRL often determines:

  • whether you are eligible for a particular EU call
  • which activities (R&D, pilot, demonstration, commercialisation) you can finance
  • what a realistic project goal is by the end of implementation.

For digital platforms, the TRL helps distinguish whether you are at the stage of an idea, an MVP, a pilot project or a market-ready product, which is key both for EU funds and for investors.

Quick TRL questionnaire for digital platforms (self-assessment)

The questionnaire is designed to give you an indicative picture of your TRL within a few minutes. The questions are deliberately written in “plain language”, with no need for in-depth technical descriptions.

How to use the questionnaire:

  • For each TRL, answer all questions with “Yes” or “No”.
  • Start at TRL 1 and work towards TRL 9.
  • Your estimated TRL is the highest level for which all answers are “Yes”.

TRL 1 – Idea and basic principle

  • Do you have a clearly written basic idea of what your digital platform does and what problem it solves?
  • Can you explain the main value of the platform (why someone would use it) in one or two sentences?

TRL 2 – Concept and application defined

  • Do you know who your main (potential) users are (e.g. small businesses, citizens, students)?
  • Do you have an idea or description of how users use the platform in practice (a simple scenario / user journey)?
  • Do you have a rough list of the main functionalities (without technical details)?

TRL 3 – Proof that the concept can work

  • Have you made any kind of prototype, mockup or clickable demo (e.g. Figma, Miro, a PPT presentation)?
  • Have you received feedback from at least a few potential users (interview, survey, meeting)?

TRL 4 – First working, “ugly” prototype

  • Is there a first working version of the platform (even if it is visually imperfect) that you can show on a computer or mobile phone?
  • Can you go through the basic flow yourself (e.g. registration, login, main function, logout) without manual “rescuing” in the background?

TRL 5 – Prototype works relatively stably

  • Does anyone other than you use the prototype (e.g. colleagues, partners, friends), and can they use it without your constant help?
  • Can you name at least 2–3 specific situations in which the prototype works as it should (e.g. a user successfully completes a key task)?

TRL 6 – Testing in “real” conditions

  • Have you let real users use the platform in conditions similar to a real environment (e.g. a test environment, a beta version)?
  • Have you measured basic results (e.g. number of users, execution time, number of errors, satisfaction), and do you have them recorded?

TRL 7 – Beta version in a real environment

  • Is the platform available to a limited number of real users in a real environment (e.g. within an organisation, or publicly as a beta)?
  • Do you collect systematic feedback (surveys, interviews, conversations) and use it to improve the platform?

TRL 8 – Finished product ready for wider use

  • Do you have a stable version of the platform (e.g. v1.0) that you can offer to the market or to organisations?
  • Are there at least basic user instructions, a description of the functionalities and basic terms of use / privacy terms?
  • Can you prove that the platform works reliably (e.g. test results, user feedback, internal reports)?

TRL 9 – Proven and accepted in practice

  • Do you have real users who use the platform in their everyday work or life (not just in a pilot or test)?
  • Have you charged for the service, or do you have formal contracts / agreements on use with organisations or users?
  • Do you have specific examples (references, case studies, user testimonials) showing that the platform delivers measurable value?

How to interpret the result

Apply a simple rule:

  • If you answered “Yes” to all questions up to TRL 5, but do not have all “Yes” answers for TRL 6, your current level is around TRL 5.
  • If you have “Yes” answers up to TRL 7, but not for all TRL 8 questions, you are realistically somewhere between TRL 7 and TRL 8.

In practice, for EU projects and investors the following is usually key:

  • TRL 3–4 → early stage, proof of concept, research and development (e.g. PoC calls)
  • TRL 5–6 → functional prototype and testing in real conditions (pilot)
  • TRL 7–8 → demonstration in an operational environment and a finished product ready to scale
  • TRL 9 → proven product with users and market traction.

Need help with your TRL and EU funds?

This questionnaire is only the first step in self-assessment, but a serious application for EU funds or negotiations with investors often require expert validation of the TRL and alignment of the project logic with the evaluators’ expectations.

If you want to:

  • define the TRL of your digital platform more precisely
  • align your project with the TRL requirements of a specific call
  • prepare a competitive application for EU funds

or if you are simply looking for expert support in preparing an EU project, an HBOR (Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development) investment loan or a HAMAG-BICRO (Croatian Agency for SMEs, Innovations and Investments) loan in Croatia, Omnia Solutions d.o.o. specialises in combining EU funds with favourable sources of financing for entrepreneurs. Our team helps you from the first innovative or investment idea to project approval and implementation, with a clear financial structure and compliance with State aid rules. Contact us at info@omniasolutions.hr for more information about the options for applying to EU calls for the development of innovative products, processes and services.