Technology Readiness Level (TRL) is a universally recognised scale used to evaluate the maturity of a technology. Spanning from TRL 1 (basic principles observed) to TRL 9 (fully operational technology), the scale plays a vital role in the European innovation ecosystem by providing a clear framework for assessing how close a technology is to deployment.
TRL in the European projects
The TRL scale was introduced in EU-funded projects in 2012 and is currently the point of reference for determining the development or maturity of a technology and its readiness for market uptake and potential investments.
Funding programmes, such as Horizon Europe, European Defence Fund, etc. often specify the TRL ranges required for eligibility under their calls for proposals. TRL is more than a technical metric—it is a guiding tool for aligning innovation with funding and implementation goals. TRL serves as a decision-making tool. It helps project evaluators and stakeholders determine whether a technology is ready to move forward in the development pipeline, ensuring efficient allocation of resources and alignment with EU priorities such as sustainability, competitiveness, and strategic autonomy. For example: a higher TRL in the text of a call for proposals clearly means that the EC is looking for an innovation that can be applied in practice, e.g. in a living lab, practical setup or with a first user. A lower TRL in the text of a call for proposals indicates the expectation of a more fundamental research project.
Below are the expectations for some of the funding programmes :
- Horizon Europe Research and Innovation actions (RIA & IAs)
- The Research and Innovation Actions cover typically projects starting at TRL2-3 and reaching TRL5-6 while the Innovation Actions are covering projects that start at TRL4-5 and end at TRL6-8.
- European Research Council actions (ERC)
- The European Research Council actions are typically targeting blue sky research so, in this context, it is not relevant to the entry point (TRL1 or 2) but only the expected output if able to test ideas that may lay the foundations for a future technology to be developed. If this is the case one of its main instruments, the ERC Proof-of-Concept allows projects to reach a proof of concept of the technology at a TRL3 or 4 level.
- European Innovation Council instruments (EIC)
- The EIC Pathfinder program aims to fund projects from TRL1-2 to reach TRL3-4.
- The EIC Transition program aims to fund projects from TRL3-4 to reach TRL5-6.
- The EIC Accelerator program aims to fund companies to move from TRL5 to TRL9.
- European Defence Fund (EDF)
- Research Actions focus primarily on research with an exclusive focus on defence applications – low TRL (up to 4 – 5)
- Development Actions: defence-oriented activities primarily in the development phase (new products/technologies/upgrading) – higher than TRL5.
TRL Effective exploitation
To effectively exploit TRL during the project implementation, it is crucial for it to be integrated it into its planning at the proposal stage. When applying for EU funding, applicants should clearly articulate the current and target TRL of their technology, providing evidence through state of the art and foreseen activities such as lab tests, prototypes, or pilot studies to demonstrate feasibility. This not only strengthens proposals but also increases the confidence of the evaluators about the project’s feasibility.
By providing a structured approach to innovation, TRL helps bridge the gap between research and market deployment. Projects that align with TRL expectations often have more chances of securing funding. Moreover, they contribute directly to addressing societal challenges, as described in the calls, and expected by the evaluators. By fostering a systematic approach to innovation, TRL enables the EU to maximize the impact of its research and innovation funding and deliver meaningful benefits to its citizens.
At Erdyn, our experts in EU funding can offer support in the set-up of European projects, while providing guidelines on how to effectively integrate and exploit the TRL of your technologies! For more information, please contact our team (emilie.baffie@erdyn.fr)
