Expert Talk on Technology Readiness Level

On 17th February, 2024 an “Expert Talk on Technology Readiness Level” was organized by Entrepreneurship Development Cell & Institution’s Innovation Council in association with the Department of Mechanical Engineering at 09:30 am to 12.30 pm. Er.M.Nagarajan, Alumni Entrepreneur, Bright CNC Tech, Chennai was the resource person. The program was held via online mode. Dr.R.K.A.Bhalaji, AP/MECH coordinated the program.

The resource person said that TRL is a method for estimating the maturing of technologies during the acquisition phase. It provides a common understanding and language for tech development. He said TRLs are a scale ranging from 1 to 9, representing different stages of technology maturity and also TRL assess critical aspects of a technology, including functionality, performance & integration capabilities. The talk elaborated on each TRL from TRL 1 where basic principles are observed, to TRL 9, where the technology is proven through successful mission operations. Additionally examples were provided to illustrate each TRL stage and its characteristics. Next he discussed about the importance of TRLs, it serves as a crucial tool for risk management, resource allocation & decision making in technology development projects. The talk highlighted various applications of TRLs across industries, including aerospace, defense, energy & healthcare. Examples were discussed, showcasing how TRLs are used in research & development, funding allocation, technology transfer & regulatory compliance. Finally best practices for implementing TRLs were discussed, emphasizing the importance of setting clear milestones, engaging stakeholders & adapting the framework to specific project needs and also challenges such as subjective interpolation of TRLs, lack of standardized methodologies & difficulties in transition b/w TRL stages were discussed