25 Sep 2025
New report analyses TRLs in Horizon Europe
The European Commission has published a report on Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) entliteld 'Using Technology Readiness Levels to analyse technology progression in Horizon Europe'. TRLs are a metric used to communicate the maturity of a particular technology. This analysis uses data collected from ongoing and closed Horizon Europe projects to provide an initial overview of the level of technological maturity that projects have achieved or expect to achieve.
The report highlights two key issues: the need to improve how Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) are reported within Horizon Europe, and considerations for the future Framework Programme (FP10). Although TRL is recognised as a valuable indicator of technological progress, feedback from project and policy officers reveals that its interpretation can be inconsistent, and there is currently a lack of detailed guidance to ensure accurate and harmonised reporting across scientific domains. Enhancing the quality of TRL data is vital for effective programme monitoring, maximising the value of insights gained, and better measuring impacts. It is suggested that more targeted training and tools be provided to both project officers and beneficiaries to support the reliable assessment and reporting of TRL.
The analysis also finds that Horizon Europe funding has so far focused mostly on early and mid-stage innovation, with relatively limited investment in projects at higher TRLs, which are crucial for turning research into market-ready products—a challenge also noted in recent EU competitiveness reports. For the future, the next Framework Programme, with its proposed increased budget, should put more emphasis on supporting later-stage, higher-TRL projects to help innovative ideas overcome the so-called “valleys of death” and reach the market, thereby ensuring that Europe’s most promising research leads to real-world solutions and economic benefits.
The report can be downloaded here: