Are TRLs usually used outside of government R&D related things? If they got an SBIR I guess they'd be familiar with the technology, but I'm only familiar with it because of DoD funding applications and stuff, it's not terminology I've seen used in the private sector too much. Maybe it is, I'm curious to know if that's the case. I've usually only heard stages of tech development discussed in terms of preclinical, clinical stage, and other regulatory frameworks rather than tech readiness level necessarily.
I’ve seen TRLs used in tech transfer offices and engineering departments in academia; NIH and NSF (usually associated with SBIR programs) as well as the DoE; in medical device and pharma manufacturing; and in life science VC groups. In private companies and VCs I’ve heard it used most in management and BD contexts. I think TRLs can provide a useful second axis to the more common clinical or regulatory development staging.
