At a glance
- Technology readiness levels run from 1, basic principles observed, to 9, proven in operation.
- The scale was first developed for space programmes in the 1970s and is now used widely.
- The hardest steps are often leaving the lab and proving a prototype in space.
- AI can help through simulation, digital twins and testing, while people keep the final judgement.
- This explorer is a learning aid, not investment advice.
Interactive tool
Technology readiness level explorer
Move through the nine levels to follow one technology from an idea on paper to proven in space.
Every level follows the same imaginary technology: a new lightweight, foldable solar panel for small satellites.
- Research
- Development
- Demonstration
- Deployment
Level 1 of 9 · Research
Basic principles observed
Scientists notice something new about how a material or process behaves and describe it in their research. There is no product yet, only an idea grounded in careful observation.
Following our example
Researchers find that a new thin, flexible material turns sunlight into electricity and can be folded without cracking.
The evidence at this level
Published research and early laboratory observations describe the effect.
Questions builders and long-term investors tend to ask
- Is the underlying science sound and repeatable?
- What problem could this one day help to solve?
A learning aid, not investment advice. Real projects rarely move in a straight line, and different organisations word the levels slightly differently.
How to use this tool
- Move the slider or use the arrows to choose a level from 1 to 9.
- Read the plain-English summary and follow the imaginary solar panel at that level.
- Check the evidence and the questions builders and long-term investors tend to ask.
- Watch the progress bar to see which stage the technology has reached.
What technology readiness levels are
Technology readiness levels are a simple way to describe how mature a technology is. Level 1 means scientists have observed a basic principle. Level 9 means the technology has been proven on real missions. Everything in between marks a step on the way, from a concept on paper to a prototype tested in space.
The scale was first developed for space programmes in the 1970s, when engineers needed a shared language for judging whether new hardware was ready to fly. It is now used widely in research funding and engineering, well beyond space, in fields such as energy, transport and health technology.
- Levels 1 to 3, research: the science is explored and the concept is proven in experiments.
- Levels 4 to 6, development: components and prototypes are tested in the laboratory and in realistic conditions.
- Level 7, demonstration: a prototype is tested in space for the first time.
- Levels 8 and 9, deployment: the system is qualified, built and proven in operation.
Why the scale matters for deep tech and patient capital
Deep tech ventures build things that do not yet exist, and space hardware is among the most demanding examples. A clear readiness level helps founders, engineers, customers and investors talk about progress in the same terms, without overstating how far a technology has come.
It also shows why time horizons are long. Moving from one level to the next can take years, and every step needs funding before customers are ready to pay. Patient capital, money that is willing to wait while milestones are met, is often what carries a technology through the middle of the scale.
The hardest steps
Two moves tend to be the toughest. The first is moving from the lab to a relevant environment, around levels 4 to 6, when a technology that worked on a bench must survive vacuum, extreme temperatures and the shaking of a launch. Many promising ideas need several redesigns at this point.
The second is moving from a prototype to proven in space, levels 7 to 9. Flight opportunities are limited, testing in orbit is costly, and customers often want a track record before they commit. Shared rides and more affordable reusable rockets have made this step easier to reach.
Most demonstration satellites fly in low Earth orbit, where they circle the planet many times a day. You can explore what that means for speed and timing with the orbit calculator.
How AI can help move along the scale
AI cannot skip the hard steps, but it can help teams take them with more confidence. Simulation lets engineers try many design options on a computer before building anything, and AI can suggest lighter structures or flag weak points early.
Digital twins, detailed virtual copies of a piece of hardware, can be updated with real test data so the team can predict how it might behave in orbit. AI can also sift through large volumes of test results and spot patterns a person might miss. The guide to AI and the space economy explores these uses further. In every case, engineers keep the final judgement on whether hardware is ready.
Nicole Junkermann's perspective
Nicole Junkermann has long argued that patient capital matters for deep technology. The readiness scale helps explain why: some of the most important steps are also the slowest, and they need people willing to support a team through years of testing.
In her view, progress should be steady and human led, with AI helping people decide while they keep the final say. As her website puts it, “Progress only matters if it is human led and human shaped.” Her wider thinking on space as long-horizon infrastructure is gathered in Nicole Junkermann on the future of investing in space.
A learning aid, not advice
This explorer is a learning aid, not investment advice. The levels, examples and questions are simplified to show how technologies mature, and the solar panel is imaginary. Real projects rarely move in a straight line, and a readiness level on its own does not show whether a venture can succeed.
For the wider picture, read the guide to the future of investing in space, and look up unfamiliar terms in the space and investing glossary.
Frequently asked questions
What are technology readiness levels?
Technology readiness levels are a scale from 1 to 9 that describes how mature a technology is. Level 1 means the basic science has been observed, and level 9 means the technology has been proven in real operation. The scale helps engineers, funders and customers talk about progress in the same terms.
Where did the technology readiness level scale come from?
The scale was first developed for space programmes in the 1970s to judge whether new hardware was ready to fly. It has since been adapted and is now used widely in research funding and engineering. Today it appears in fields as varied as energy, transport and health technology.
What is the difference between TRL 6 and TRL 7?
At level 6, a full prototype has been demonstrated in a realistic setting on the ground, such as a vacuum chamber. At level 7, a prototype has been demonstrated in its real operating environment, which for space hardware means in orbit. The jump usually needs a flight opportunity, which is why it is one of the hardest steps.
Why do technology readiness levels matter to long-term investors?
They give a shared, plain way to describe how far a technology has come and what still needs to be proven. Long-term investors often use them to understand the milestones and time horizons ahead, especially in deep tech. Nicole Junkermann has long argued that patient capital matters for this kind of technology, because the middle levels can take years.
Can AI speed up technology readiness?
AI can help through simulation, digital twins and faster analysis of test data, which may reduce the number of costly hardware builds. It cannot replace real testing in the right environment, and engineers still decide when hardware is ready. It works best as a tool that supports human judgement rather than a shortcut.