FRL
Funding Readiness Level
The Funding Readiness Level (FRL) framework evaluates how prepared a research project is to secure funding: how well developed the project is in terms of its funding strategy and requirements.
Readiness assessments
Assessment of project fundability
As you move along with your interdisciplinary project development, it is important to assess the fundability of your project. You can do this by assessing its maturity in various categories.
Some scales (like TRL and SRL) are also used by funding bodies, and assessing them as you go can help you write future funding applications. Cherry-pick the scales that are relevant for your project.
If your project doesn't have any prospect of IP or commercialisation, it is not relevant to assess the BRL or IPRL.
SRL
Societal Readiness Level
The Societal Readiness Level (SRL) evaluates how well a social project, technology, product, process, intervention, service or innovation is adapted for integration into society.
TRL
Technology Readiness Level
The Technology Readiness Level (TRL) gauges the maturity of a specific technology, from early idea through testing to fully operational. Funding bodies often ask applicants to evaluate the TRL of their technology and how it might be improved during the project period.
TeamRL
Team Readiness Level
Having the right team of researchers and partners is critical to a project's success. This scale helps you determine how far you are in setting up a strong collaborative team, capable not only of developing an impactful project idea but also of getting the appropriate funding and executing the project.
BRL
Business Model Readiness Level
Some funding bodies (such as GUDP) have a strong focus on the commercialisation perspectives of funded projects. It can therefore be beneficial to evaluate the business model you made with the Sustainable Business Model Canvas.
URL/CRL
User/Customer Readiness Level
If your project aims to develop a technology or service that will be implemented in society, a good understanding of your future users (or customers, if the idea is to be commercialised) is key. Too many innovations are designed without including future users, and risk not being picked up because the design does not meet the users' actual need.
IPRL
Intellectual Property Readiness Level
IPRL evaluates the readiness level of the intellectual property (IP) you create during your project.