the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) scale

The Technology Readiness Level (TRL) scale is a tool to assess how close a new technology is to being used in real-world applications. It ranges from 1 to 9: TRL 1 means basic principles are observed; TRL 4 involves testing a prototype in a lab; TRL 6-7 includes demonstrations in relevant environments; and TRL 9 signifies the technology is fully developed and operational. This scale helps investors, developers, and organizations understand a technology's development stage and readiness for deployment.