{"id":1809,"date":"2023-06-21T11:24:46","date_gmt":"2023-06-21T09:24:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/omniasolutions.hr\/?p=1809"},"modified":"2026-10-28T11:09:18","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T10:09:18","slug":"technology-readiness-levels-trl-why-they-matter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/omniasolutions.hr\/en\/technology-readiness-levels-trl-why-they-matter\/","title":{"rendered":"Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 1\u20139: meaning and EU programmes by level"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Technology Readiness Level (TRL)<\/strong> is a scale from 1 to 9 that measures how close a technology or innovation is to the market. TRL 1 means that basic principles have been observed, and TRL 9 means that the system has been proven in an operational environment. EU programmes and Croatian calls for research, development and innovation state a starting and a target TRL for each instrument, so the level of your innovation decides which call you can apply to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scale was developed by NASA in the 1970s, and the European Union has used it in its research and innovation programmes since Horizon 2020. The European Innovation Council (EIC) uses the same definitions in the EIC Programme Finder<\/a>, which recommends a funding programme based on the TRL of your innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TRL 1\u20139 according to EU definitions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
TRL<\/th>Stage<\/th>Definition<\/th>What it usually shows<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
1<\/td>Research<\/td>Basic principles observed<\/td>scientific literature and theoretical analysis<\/td><\/tr>
2<\/td>Research<\/td>Technology concept formulated<\/td>description of the concept and possible applications<\/td><\/tr>
3<\/td>Research<\/td>Experimental proof of concept<\/td>laboratory experiments confirming the key functions<\/td><\/tr>
4<\/td>Development<\/td>Technology validated in lab<\/td>laboratory prototype of the key components<\/td><\/tr>
5<\/td>Development<\/td>Technology validated in relevant environment (industrially relevant environment in the case of key enabling technologies)<\/td>testing in conditions close to real ones<\/td><\/tr>
6<\/td>Development<\/td>Technology demonstrated in relevant environment (industrially relevant environment in the case of key enabling technologies)<\/td>system prototype demonstrated in a relevant environment<\/td><\/tr>
7<\/td>Deployment<\/td>System prototype demonstration in operational environment<\/td>pilot with a real user<\/td><\/tr>
8<\/td>Deployment<\/td>System complete and qualified<\/td>final testing and certification<\/td><\/tr>
9<\/td>Deployment<\/td>Actual system proven in operational environment (competitive manufacturing in the case of key enabling technologies, or in space)<\/td>commercial use<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Level and stage names from the EIC Programme Finder. The column “What it usually shows” is our practical description.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Which EU programme fits your TRL<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The EIC Programme Finder guides you in three steps: TRL definitions, an assessment of your innovation’s level and a programme recommendation. The European Innovation Council programmes are part of Horizon Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Programme<\/th>Starting TRL and target<\/th>Funding<\/th>Who applies<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
EIC Pathfinder<\/td>TRL 1\u20134, aiming for TRL 3\u20134<\/td>grants of up to EUR 4 million<\/td>consortia of at least three independent legal entities from different countries; single applicants for Pathfinder Challenges<\/td><\/tr>
EIC Transition<\/td>from TRL 3\u20134 towards TRL 5\u20136<\/td>grants of up to EUR 2.5 million<\/td>single applicants (SMEs, start-ups, spin-offs, research organisations, universities) or consortia of 2 to 5 entities<\/td><\/tr>
EIC Pre-Accelerator<\/td>at least TRL 4, development up to TRL 6<\/td>EUR 500,000 to 1,000,000 per project in the 2027 call<\/td>only SMEs from Widening countries, including Croatia<\/td><\/tr>
EIC Accelerator<\/td>from TRL 4\u20136 towards TRL 7\u20138<\/td>a grant component below EUR 2.5 million and equity investment of up to EUR 10 million<\/td>start-ups and SMEs, and individuals intending to set up a company<\/td><\/tr>
EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges<\/td>TRL 4\u20136, depending on the challenge<\/td>EUR 300,000 in stage 1 and up to EUR 2.5 million in stage 2<\/td>start-ups, SMEs and research organisations<\/td><\/tr>
STEP Scale Up<\/td>TRL 9 and above<\/td>investment of EUR 10 to 30 million<\/td>start-ups, SMEs and small mid-caps<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Based on the EIC Programme Finder and programme pages, as of 28 October 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n