{"id":47259,"date":"2026-09-14T09:00:35","date_gmt":"2026-09-14T07:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nexuswelt.com\/?p=47259"},"modified":"2026-08-20T15:43:41","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T13:43:41","slug":"technology-readiness-levels-trl-1-9","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nexuswelt.com\/de\/technology-readiness-levels-trl-1-9\/","title":{"rendered":"Technology Readiness Levels Explained: TRL 1\u20139 with Real Examples"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"47259\" class=\"elementor elementor-47259\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-26d2bdeb e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"26d2bdeb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1014e8d3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1014e8d3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #595959;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Munich, 14 September 2026 \u00b7 Nexuswelt Group<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">TRL is the coordinate the whole European funding system runs on. It determines which instruments are open to you, how a call topic is scoped, and what an evaluator expects to see as evidence. Get it right and the shortlist of relevant instruments narrows to two or three. Get it wrong and you lose a submission cycle.<\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The official definitions are one line each, which is why they are hard to apply. Below: the nine levels, what each actually looks like in different sectors, how to evidence a claim, and the mistakes that make an inflated TRL visible to an evaluator.<\/span><\/span><\/p><h2 class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #1f3864;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>What TRL is, and what it is not<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The Technology Readiness Level scale runs from 1 to 9 and measures the maturity of a technology from basic research to proven operation. It originated at NASA and was adopted by the European Commission as the standard reference for scoping calls and assessing progress. The authoritative definitions for Horizon Europe sit in the General Annexes to the work programme; the NCP network also maintains a <\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/horizoneuropencpportal.eu\/store\/trl-assessment\"><span style=\"color: #0563c1;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><u>TRL self-assessment tool<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"> built around them.<\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Three things it is not, each of which produces a specific error:<\/span><\/span><\/p><ul><li value=\"1\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">It is not a measure of business maturity. Paying customers do not make you TRL 9 if each deployment is manually configured. Revenue and readiness are different axes.<\/span><\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">It is not a measure of intellectual property. A granted patent does not put you at TRL 4 if no prototype exists.<\/span><\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">It is not comparable across disciplines with any precision. TRL 6 in software and TRL 6 in pharmaceuticals describe very different amounts of remaining work, and the scale is self-declared, which is why evidence matters more than the number.<\/span><\/span><\/li><\/ul><h2 class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #1f3864;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>The nine levels<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-47255\" src=\"https:\/\/nexuswelt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Bild1i-14-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nexuswelt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Bild1i-14-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nexuswelt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Bild1i-14-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/nexuswelt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Bild1i-14-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/nexuswelt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Bild1i-14.webp 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2><h2 class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #1f3864;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>The same level across four sectors<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Abstract definitions are hardest to apply at the boundaries. These are the same levels described in four different kinds of work.<\/span><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #2e5496;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>Industrial process technology<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">TRL 3: the chemical mechanism demonstrated on synthetic feedstock at bench scale. TRL 5: the same process running on a real industrial sidestream, with the upscaling barriers identified. TRL 6: a pilot unit at laboratory or demonstration scale performing close to target. TRL 8: a qualified production line meeting specification.<\/span><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #2e5496;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>Software and AI<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">TRL 3: the algorithm outperforms a baseline on benchmark data. TRL 5: it holds up on the customer&#8217;s own messy production data rather than a clean dataset. TRL 7: deployed in a live system with real users and real latency constraints. TRL 9: running in production across multiple customers without manual configuration per deployment.<\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><i>Software teams frequently overstate here, because a working demonstration feels finished. The question that resolves it: does it still work when the data, the load and the users are not the ones you chose?<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #2e5496;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>Medical technology<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">TRL 4: the device works on bench models. TRL 5: validated on relevant biological material or in animal models. TRL 7: clinical investigation in the intended setting. TRL 8: regulatory approval obtained. In regulated sectors, TRL 8 is a formal gate rather than a judgement &#8211; you either hold the approval or you do not.<\/span><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #2e5496;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>Energy and hardware systems<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">TRL 4: a component validated in the laboratory. TRL 6: a scaled demonstrator on a test site under realistic load. TRL 7: installed and running at a host site with real operational demands. TRL 9: units in commercial service with maintenance and performance records.<\/span><\/span><\/p><h2 class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #1f3864;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>Which instruments fund which levels<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2><table width=\"624\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"6\"><thead><tr valign=\"top\"><td bgcolor=\"#1f3864\" width=\"187\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>Instrument<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/td><td bgcolor=\"#1f3864\" width=\"161\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>Typical TRL range<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/td><td bgcolor=\"#1f3864\" width=\"238\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>What that means for you<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/td><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr valign=\"top\"><td width=\"187\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>European Research Council (Pillar I)<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/td><td width=\"161\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">1\u20133<\/span><\/span><\/td><td width=\"238\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Frontier science. Not open to associated countries on the same terms as Pillar II<\/span><\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr valign=\"top\"><td bgcolor=\"#f2f5fa\" width=\"187\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>Research and Innovation Actions (RIA)<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/td><td bgcolor=\"#f2f5fa\" width=\"161\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Roughly 1\u20135<\/span><\/span><\/td><td bgcolor=\"#f2f5fa\" width=\"238\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Collaborative research. Novelty is scored; a mature technology is a poor fit<\/span><\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr valign=\"top\"><td width=\"187\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>Innovation Actions (IA)<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/td><td width=\"161\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Roughly 5\u20138<\/span><\/span><\/td><td width=\"238\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Demonstration and piloting. Expect to arrive around TRL 5 and leave around 7 or 8<\/span><\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr valign=\"top\"><td bgcolor=\"#f2f5fa\" width=\"187\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>EIC Pathfinder<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/td><td bgcolor=\"#f2f5fa\" width=\"161\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">1\u20133<\/span><\/span><\/td><td bgcolor=\"#f2f5fa\" width=\"238\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Early, high-risk deep tech<\/span><\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr valign=\"top\"><td width=\"187\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>EIC Transition<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/td><td width=\"161\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">3\u20136<\/span><\/span><\/td><td width=\"238\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Maturation from laboratory result toward business case<\/span><\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr valign=\"top\"><td bgcolor=\"#f2f5fa\" width=\"187\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>EIC Accelerator<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/td><td bgcolor=\"#f2f5fa\" width=\"161\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Typically 5\u20136 at application, funding activities at 6\u20138<\/span><\/span><\/td><td bgcolor=\"#f2f5fa\" width=\"238\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Scale-up. Not an early-stage instrument<\/span><\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr valign=\"top\"><td width=\"187\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>Digital Europe Programme<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/td><td width=\"161\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">High maturity, deployment<\/span><\/span><\/td><td width=\"238\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Adoption at scale rather than research; novelty is not the point<\/span><\/span><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><i>Always check the topic text. Individual topics state their own expected start and end levels, and those override any general mapping.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p><h2 class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #1f3864;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>How to evidence a TRL claim<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The claim is self-declared, so what carries weight is the evidence behind it. A defensible claim has four parts:<\/span><\/span><\/p><ol><li value=\"1\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The level, stated plainly, with the official definition it corresponds to.<\/span><\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">What has actually been done &#8211; the tests, the conditions, the results.<\/span><\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">What has not been done &#8211; the specific gap between where you are and the next level.<\/span><\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">What the project will do to close it, expressed as work in a work package.<\/span><\/span><\/li><\/ol><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Naming the gap strengthens the claim rather than weakening it. A proposal that describes precisely what remains unproven reads as one written by people who understand their own technology. A proposal with no stated gap reads as one that has not been examined.<\/span><\/span><\/p><h2 class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #1f3864;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>Where TRL claims go wrong<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2><ul><li><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Inflation. Claiming TRL 7 with laboratory data. Evaluators read the evidence and the number together, and the mismatch damages credibility across the whole proposal, not just the technical section.<\/span><\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Inconsistency across the document. If the technical section says TRL 6 but the work plan spends most of the budget on fundamental development, one of the two is wrong and both are visible.<\/span><\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Confusing business traction with technology maturity, in either direction. A revenue-generating product can still be at TRL 7 if every installation is bespoke.<\/span><\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Averaging across components. If the core technology is TRL 4 and the packaging is TRL 8, the system is not TRL 6. Assess the critical path, and state the levels separately where it matters.<\/span><\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Using an adapted scale without saying so. Some sectors and national agencies use modified versions. If you use one, disclose it and map it explicitly to the standard nine-point scale &#8211; project officers work from the official definitions.<\/span><\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Understating to look safe. It happens less often but costs just as much: a topic expecting TRL 5 to 7 will reject a proposal that positions itself at TRL 3.<\/span><\/span><\/li><\/ul><h2 class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #1f3864;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>A quick self-assessment<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Answer honestly, and stop at the first no.<\/span><\/span><\/p><table width=\"624\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"6\"><thead><tr valign=\"top\"><td bgcolor=\"#1f3864\" width=\"300\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>If you can say<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/td><td bgcolor=\"#1f3864\" width=\"298\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>You are at least<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/td><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr valign=\"top\"><td width=\"300\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>We have published or documented the underlying principle<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/td><td width=\"298\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">TRL 1<\/span><\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr valign=\"top\"><td bgcolor=\"#f2f5fa\" width=\"300\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>We have described a specific application for it<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/td><td bgcolor=\"#f2f5fa\" width=\"298\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">TRL 2<\/span><\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr valign=\"top\"><td width=\"300\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>We have shown the critical function works experimentally<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/td><td width=\"298\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">TRL 3<\/span><\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr valign=\"top\"><td bgcolor=\"#f2f5fa\" width=\"300\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>The components work together in our laboratory<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/td><td bgcolor=\"#f2f5fa\" width=\"298\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">TRL 4<\/span><\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr valign=\"top\"><td width=\"300\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>It works with real inputs, materials or data, not idealised ones<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/td><td width=\"298\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">TRL 5<\/span><\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr valign=\"top\"><td bgcolor=\"#f2f5fa\" width=\"300\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>A prototype performs close to target under realistic conditions<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/td><td bgcolor=\"#f2f5fa\" width=\"298\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">TRL 6<\/span><\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr valign=\"top\"><td width=\"300\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>It has run in the actual environment of use, with real users<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/td><td width=\"298\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">TRL 7<\/span><\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr valign=\"top\"><td bgcolor=\"#f2f5fa\" width=\"300\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>It is complete and has passed the required certification or approval<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/td><td bgcolor=\"#f2f5fa\" width=\"298\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">TRL 8<\/span><\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr valign=\"top\"><td width=\"300\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>It is in service at scale, without bespoke configuration each time<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/td><td width=\"298\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">TRL 9<\/span><\/span><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><h2 class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #1f3864;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>How Nexuswelt works with this<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">TRL is the first thing to establish and the thing most often established too late. Nexuswelt works with companies and research organisations on positioning against real call topics &#8211; instrument selection, role definition and the evidence framing that makes a technical claim defensible to an evaluator. The broader starting point is our guide to <\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nexuswelt.com\/eu-funding-for-startups-where-to-start\/\"><span style=\"color: #0563c1;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><u>EU funding for startups<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">, and more on the firm is on the <\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nexuswelt.com\/about-us\/\"><span style=\"color: #0563c1;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><u>Nexuswelt about page<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/p><h2 class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #1f3864;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>Frequently asked questions<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-59c45153 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"59c45153\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-30c6352b elementor-widget elementor-widget-n-accordion\" data-id=\"30c6352b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;default_state&quot;:&quot;all_collapsed&quot;,&quot;max_items_expended&quot;:&quot;one&quot;,&quot;n_accordion_animation_duration&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;ms&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:400,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"nested-accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-n-accordion\" aria-label=\"Accordion. Open links with Enter or Space, close with Escape, and navigate with Arrow Keys\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-8180\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"1\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-8180\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><h3 class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> What are Technology Readiness Levels? <\/h3><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8180\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3a04d5dc e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3a04d5dc\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8180\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-21205391 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"21205391\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-604692f1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"604692f1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">TRLs are a nine-point scale measuring how mature a technology is, from basic principles observed at TRL 1 to a system proven in operational environment at TRL 9. The scale originated at NASA and is used by the European Commission to scope calls and assess technology development in funded projects.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-8181\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"2\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-8181\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><h3 class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> Where are the official TRL definitions for Horizon Europe? <\/h3><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8181\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5570e293 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5570e293\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8181\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-55a0bc8b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"55a0bc8b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5b596c05 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5b596c05\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">In the General Annexes to the Horizon Europe work programme, which are the authoritative reference. National agencies and the defence sector sometimes use adapted scales that differ slightly, so a claim should always be anchored to the EU definitions.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-8182\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"3\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-8182\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><h3 class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> What TRL do I need for Horizon Europe? <\/h3><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8182\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d1ca3b6 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5d1ca3b6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8182\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-505d5b9b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"505d5b9b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4f73de8a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4f73de8a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">It depends on the instrument and the topic. Research and Innovation Actions generally sit around TRL 1\u20135, Innovation Actions around TRL 5\u20138, EIC Pathfinder at TRL 1\u20133, EIC Transition at TRL 3\u20136 and the EIC Accelerator typically at TRL 5\u20136 on application. Individual topics state their own expected levels, which override any general mapping.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-8183\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"4\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-8183\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><h3 class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> What is the difference between TRL 5 and TRL 6? <\/h3><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8183\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ef52105 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ef52105\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8183\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-692f8860 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"692f8860\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-29610f2c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"29610f2c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">TRL 5 is validation in a relevant environment &#8211; the technology works with realistic inputs or conditions rather than idealised ones. TRL 6 is demonstration in a relevant environment: a system prototype performing close to target specifications. The step is from proving that it works to showing that it performs.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-8184\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"5\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-8184\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><h3 class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> What happens if I overstate my TRL? <\/h3><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8184\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-50ff63e5 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"50ff63e5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8184\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4842dab1 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4842dab1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6190b72 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6190b72\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">No. TRL measures technology maturity, not business maturity. A product generating revenue can still be at TRL 7 or 8 if every deployment requires bespoke configuration. TRL 9 means the system operates at scale under normal conditions without that.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-8185\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"6\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-8185\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><h3 class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> How do I prove my TRL claim in a proposal? <\/h3><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8185\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2803ed01 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2803ed01\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8185\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-31df3f60 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"31df3f60\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ff0f4a7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ff0f4a7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">State the level with the official definition, describe what has actually been tested and under what conditions, name the specific gap to the next level, and show the work that closes it. Naming the gap strengthens the claim, because a proposal with no stated gap reads as one that has not been examined.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-8186\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"7\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-8186\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><h3 class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> Does having AI Factory access improve a funding proposal? <\/h3><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8186\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-349652a2 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"349652a2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8186\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4113b51 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4113b51\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-69c3af55 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"69c3af55\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Evaluators read the number and the supporting evidence together, so a mismatch is visible and damages credibility across the whole proposal rather than only the technical section. Inconsistency between the stated TRL and the budget or work plan has the same effect.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-8187\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"8\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-8187\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><h3 class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> Can different parts of my system be at different TRLs? <\/h3><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8187\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ae19b8 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ae19b8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8187\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67eb0a45 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"67eb0a45\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d0ac6cb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2d0ac6cb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Yes, and averaging them is a mistake. If the core technology is at TRL 4 and a peripheral component is at TRL 8, the system is not at TRL 6. Assess the critical path and state levels separately where the difference matters.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What are Technology Readiness Levels?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"TRLs are a nine-point scale measuring how mature a technology is, from basic principles observed at TRL 1 to a system proven in operational environment at TRL 9. The scale originated at NASA and is used by the European Commission to scope calls and assess technology development in funded projects.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Where are the official TRL definitions for Horizon Europe?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"In the General Annexes to the Horizon Europe work programme, which are the authoritative reference. National agencies and the defence sector sometimes use adapted scales that differ slightly, so a claim should always be anchored to the EU definitions.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What TRL do I need for Horizon Europe?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"It depends on the instrument and the topic. Research and Innovation Actions generally sit around TRL 1\\u20135, Innovation Actions around TRL 5\\u20138, EIC Pathfinder at TRL 1\\u20133, EIC Transition at TRL 3\\u20136 and the EIC Accelerator typically at TRL 5\\u20136 on application. Individual topics state their own expected levels, which override any general mapping.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is the difference between TRL 5 and TRL 6?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"TRL 5 is validation in a relevant environment &#8211; the technology works with realistic inputs or conditions rather than idealised ones. TRL 6 is demonstration in a relevant environment: a system prototype performing close to target specifications. The step is from proving that it works to showing that it performs.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What happens if I overstate my TRL?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"No. TRL measures technology maturity, not business maturity. A product generating revenue can still be at TRL 7 or 8 if every deployment requires bespoke configuration. TRL 9 means the system operates at scale under normal conditions without that.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How do I prove my TRL claim in a proposal?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"State the level with the official definition, describe what has actually been tested and under what conditions, name the specific gap to the next level, and show the work that closes it. Naming the gap strengthens the claim, because a proposal with no stated gap reads as one that has not been examined.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Does having AI Factory access improve a funding proposal?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Evaluators read the number and the supporting evidence together, so a mismatch is visible and damages credibility across the whole proposal rather than only the technical section. Inconsistency between the stated TRL and the budget or work plan has the same effect.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Can different parts of my system be at different TRLs?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes, and averaging them is a mistake. If the core technology is at TRL 4 and a peripheral component is at TRL 8, the system is not at TRL 6. Assess the critical path and state levels separately where the difference matters.\"}}]}<\/script>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ae54a06 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"ae54a06\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-764d33c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"764d33c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #1f3864;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>Sources<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/horizoneuropencpportal.eu\/store\/trl-assessment\"><span style=\"color: #0563c1;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><u>Horizon Europe NCP Portal &#8211; TRL self-assessment tool<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/horizoneuropencpportal.eu\/sites\/default\/files\/2022-12\/trl-assessment-tool-guide-final.pdf\"><span style=\"color: #0563c1;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><u>Horizon Europe NCP Portal &#8211; guiding notes for the TRL self-assessment tool<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/info\/funding-tenders\/opportunities\/docs\/2021-2027\/horizon\/wp-call\/2026-2027\/wp-1-general-introduction_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf\"><span style=\"color: #0563c1;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><u>Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026\u20132027 &#8211; general introduction<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/eic.ec.europa.eu\/eic-funding-opportunities\/eic-accelerator_en\"><span style=\"color: #0563c1;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><u>European Innovation Council &#8211; EIC Accelerator<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/info\/funding-tenders\/opportunities\/portal\/screen\/programmes\/horizon\"><span style=\"color: #0563c1;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><u>EU Funding &amp; Tenders Portal &#8211; Horizon Europe programme page<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu\/funding\/funding-opportunities\/funding-programmes-and-open-calls\/horizon-europe_en\"><span style=\"color: #0563c1;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><u>Horizon Europe &#8211; official research and innovation portal<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Munich, 14 September 2026 \u00b7 Nexuswelt Group TRL is the coordinate the whole European funding system runs on. It determines which instruments are open to you, how a call topic is scoped, and what an evaluator expects to see as evidence. Get it right and the shortlist of relevant instruments narrows to two or three. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":47262,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"googlesitekit_rrm_CAowqvfKDA:productID":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[545,167,821,820,823,822],"class_list":["post-47259","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-eu-funding-insights-horizon-europe-news-project-blog","tag-eic-accelerator","tag-horizon-europe","tag-technology-readiness-levels-horizon-europe","tag-trl-1-9","tag-trl-assessment","tag-trl-examples"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Technology Readiness Levels (TRL 1\u20139): Guide &amp; Examples<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Technology Readiness Levels explained from TRL 1 to TRL 9, with real examples, evaluator evidence and guidance on choosing the right EU funding instrument.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nexuswelt.com\/de\/technology-readiness-levels-trl-1-9\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"de_DE\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Technology Readiness Levels Explained: TRL 1\u20139 with Real Examples\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"What does TRL 4, 6 or 9 actually mean? 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