Readiness Level Models: Complete Reference

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MODEL 1: Three Readiness Frameworks

Level

TRL (Technical)

CRL (Commercial)

PRL (Practitioner)

FORTRESS Stage

Basic principles observed

Hypothetical commercial proposition

Problem practitioner-identified (1-3 practitioners)

COLLABORATE

Technology concept formulated

Commercial proposition formulated

Sector-wide validation (≥10 practitioners)

COLLABORATE

2.5

—

Practitioner commitment secured (≥5 time allocation)

COLLABORATE

Experimental proof of concept

Applied research based on market reality

Ecosystem stakeholders consulted

COLLABORATE

Technology validated in lab

Small-scale pilot commercially valid

Tech type classified; ≥70% analogue pilot success

EXPERIMENT

Technology validated in relevant environment

Large-scale pilot commercially validated

Real-world utility demonstrated; measurable impact

EXPERIMENT

Technology demonstrated in relevant environment

Commercial trial with repeat customers

Multi-stakeholder stress test passed; NPS ≥80, TVR ≥10

EXPERIMENT

System prototype in operational environment

Commercial launch with market traction

Documented impact (≥1 case study); champion advocacy

BUILD

System complete and qualified

Scaling product/business

Sustained adoption (≥100 users, 90% retention, 30% referral)

SCALE

System proven in operational environment

Sustainable business model proven

Sector standard (≥1 paying customer, community of practice)

SCALE

COLLABORATE

TRL

Basic principles observed

CRL

Hypothetical commercial proposition

PRL

Problem practitioner-identified (1-3 practitioners)

COLLABORATE

TRL

Technology concept formulated

CRL

Commercial proposition formulated

PRL

Sector-wide validation (≥10 practitioners)

2.5

COLLABORATE

TRL

—

CRL

—

PRL

Practitioner commitment secured (≥5 time allocation)

COLLABORATE

TRL

Experimental proof of concept

CRL

Applied research based on market reality

PRL

Ecosystem stakeholders consulted

EXPERIMENT

TRL

Technology validated in lab

CRL

Small-scale pilot commercially valid

PRL

Tech type classified; ≥70% analogue pilot success

EXPERIMENT

TRL

Technology validated in relevant environment

CRL

Large-scale pilot commercially validated

PRL

Real-world utility demonstrated; measurable impact

EXPERIMENT

TRL

Technology demonstrated in relevant environment

CRL

Commercial trial with repeat customers

PRL

Multi-stakeholder stress test passed; NPS ≥80, TVR ≥10

BUILD

TRL

System prototype in operational environment

CRL

Commercial launch with market traction

PRL

Documented impact (≥1 case study); champion advocacy

SCALE

TRL

System complete and qualified

CRL

Scaling product/business

PRL

Sustained adoption (≥100 users, 90% retention, 30% referral)

SCALE

TRL

System proven in operational environment

CRL

Sustainable business model proven

PRL

Sector standard (≥1 paying customer, community of practice)

MODEL 2: Failure Mode Detection Matrix

Technical impossibility

✅ TRL 1-4

❌

✅ PRL 1-3

Weeks vs 12-18 months

£10K vs £500K-£2M

Market doesn't exist

❌

✅ CRL 2-4

✅ PRL 2-3

Weeks vs 6-12 months

£10K vs £200K+

Poor business model

❌

✅ CRL 7-9

✅ PRL 3,6,7,9

£20K vs £500K-£1M+

95% cost reduction

Practitioners won't adopt

❌

⚠️ Partial

✅ PRL 5-9

Core PRL purpose

Lab-to-field gap

⚠️ TRL 5-6

❌

✅ PRL 4-5

Pre-prototype

£200K+ saved

Regulatory barriers

❌

⚠️ CRL 6-7

✅ PRL 3

2-3 years earlier

£2M+ saved

Hidden costs kill margins

❌

⚠️ CRL 8

✅ PRL 3

Before build

£500K-£1M+ saved

Can't mobilize budget

❌

⚠️ CRL 6-7

✅ PRL 6-7

18-24 months earlier

£750K+ saved

Wrong customer segment

❌

⚠️ CRL 5-6

✅ PRL 2-3

12-18 months earlier

£300K+ saved

Pricing model broken

❌

✅ CRL 5-7

✅ PRL 3

6-12 months earlier

£200K+ saved

Procurement barriers

❌

⚠️ CRL 6-7

✅ PRL 3

12-24 months earlier

£500K+ saved

Sales cycle kills runway

❌

⚠️ CRL 6-7

✅ PRL 3

Before build

Prevents cash crisis

Adoption fatigue

❌

✅ PRL 8

Unique to PRL

MODEL 3: FORTRESS Four-Phase Framework

COLLABORATE

PRL 1-3

Core Rule

Never skip a voice

Action

Validate with all 6 stakeholders

Success Signal

5/6 YES → proceed Any NO → pivot or kill

Gate Threshold

≥60/100

EXPERIMENT

PRL 4-6

Core Rule

Test simple before tech

Action

Low-cost pilots (paper/concierge/no-code)

Success Signal

Retention & willingness to pay NPS ≥80, TVR ≥10

Gate Threshold

≥80/100

BUILD

PRL 7

Core Rule

Co-create, don't dictate

Action

Work shoulder-to-shoulder with practitioners

Success Signal

They use it daily & defend it ≥1 case study

Gate Threshold

≥90/100

SCALE

PRL 8-9

Core Rule

Share everything

Action

Build in public; publish learnings

Success Signal

Others copy, improve, or join ≥100 users, 90% retention

Gate Threshold

≥90/100 + 7% WoW growth

MODEL 4: Six-Stakeholder Townhouse Model

1. Practitioners

What They Catch

Adoption barriers; workflow reality; priority signal

When

PRL 1-2

Example Barrier

Won't commit time = not urgent

2. Budget Holders

What They Catch

Budget cycles; approval chains; funding sources

When

PRL 3

Example Barrier

18-month procurement cycle kills runway

3. Finance/Procurement

What They Catch

TCO; hidden costs; buying process; payment terms

When

PRL 3

Example Barrier

£5K license, £50K integration cost

4. Lawyers/Regulatory

What They Catch

Compliance costs; approval timelines; liability

When

PRL 3

Example Barrier

MHRA adds 2 years + £500K

5. Academics/Researchers

What They Catch

Technical feasibility; evidence base; market size

When

PRL 1-4

Example Barrier

Violates fundamental principles

6. Technologists

What They Catch

Implementation reality; cost-to-serve; scalability

When

PRL 1-4

Example Barrier

No material exists at that price point

MODEL 5: PRL-TRL-CRL Integration Gates

Concept Validation

TRL

TRL 1-2

CRL

CRL 1-2

PRL

PRL 1-3

5/6 stakeholder YES or KILL

Prototype Development

TRL

TRL 4

CRL

CRL 3-4

PRL

PRL 4

All 3 frameworks or KILL

⚠️ DEMONSTRATION GATE

TRL

TRL 6

CRL

CRL 5

PRL

PRL ≥5

HARD GATE: Cannot proceed if any <threshold

Pilot/Trial

TRL

TRL 7-8

CRL

CRL 6-7

PRL

PRL 7

All 3 frameworks or KILL

Commercial Launch

TRL

TRL 9

CRL

CRL 8-9

PRL

PRL 8-9

All 3 at level 9 = sustainable success

MODEL 6: PRL Scoring Matrix

Adoption Intent

35%

Measurement

Pre-sale conversion, NPS, switch quotient

Threshold

PRL 1-3: ≥60 PRL 4-6: ≥80 PRL 7-9: ≥90

Workflow Integration

30%

Measurement

Time saved, error reduction, task completion

Threshold

+7% WoW at PRL 7-9

Champion Advocacy

20%

Measurement

Number, influence, budget commitment

Threshold

≥3 champions at PRL 7

Economic Signal

10%

Measurement

LTV:CAC, unit economics

Threshold

Validated by finance

Ecosystem Momentum

Measurement

Referral velocity, community formation

Threshold

30% referral at PRL 8

MODEL 7: Framework Philosophy

TRL

"Can we build it?"

Validates

Technical feasibility

Catches Failures

Technical impossibility

Timing

Lab testing (12-18 months)

CRL

"Will someone pay?"

Validates

Business viability

Catches Failures

Market/business model

Timing

Market testing (6-12 months)

PRL

"Will practitioners use it?"

Validates

End-user adoption + all above

Catches Failures

All failure modes

Timing

Multi-stakeholder review (1-4 weeks)

MODEL 8: Cost-Benefit Comparison

TRL only

Timeline

12-18 months

Investment

£500K-£2M

Failure Detection Coverage

Technical issues only

TRL + CRL

Timeline

18-36 months

Investment

£1M-£3M

Failure Detection Coverage

Technical + commercial (sequential)

TRL + CRL + PRL

Timeline

1-4 weeks

Investment

£10K-£20K

Failure Detection Coverage

All issues (parallel)

Speed: 10-50x faster | Cost: 50-100x cheaper | Coverage: Complete

MODEL 9: UK R&D Impact Metrics

Projects reaching production

UK Baseline

13%

FORTRESS + PRL Target

68%

Adoption post-launch

UK Baseline

30%

FORTRESS + PRL Target

88%

Average failure cost

UK Baseline

£500K+

FORTRESS + PRL Target

£9K

Patents per £1M R&D

UK Baseline

FORTRESS + PRL Target

Time to PRL 6

UK Baseline

N/A

FORTRESS + PRL Target

8 weeks

Failure rate

UK Baseline

70-87%

FORTRESS + PRL Target

<20%