Technology readiness levels (TRLs) is a measure of estimating technology maturity of core technologies in a
program during the selection process and in subsequent monitoring and evaluation phases until these
technologies, or products utilizing them, attain market readiness. Originally introduced by NASA, the TRL
scale is a metric with nine technology readiness levels for describing the maturity of a technology from
ideation stage (TRL-1) to highest degree of application/commercial readiness (TRL-9).
● TRL 1: Basic research has been conducted
● TRL 2: Initial practical applications are identified
● TRL 3: Critical function or proof of concept established
● TRL 4: Lab testing/validation of alpha prototype
● TRL 5: Technology basic validation in a relevant environment
● TRL 6: Technology model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment
● TRL 7: Technology prototype demonstration in an operational environment
● TRL 8: Actual technology completed and qualified through test and demonstration
● TRL 9: The most mature technology, the one most ready to go to market and be commercialised
They provide a common understanding of technology levels and risks involved.
Different TRL levels attract different types of funders. The early research is largely funded by academia
and government; TRL 8-9 technologies are funded by the markets or industry. The gap between TRLs
4-7, where technologies often struggle to transition from laboratory to operational use.
Translational research is the process of converting scientific research from the early stages into
practical applications and commercial products.
In contrast to basic research, which represents fundamental scientific inquiry without considering economic impact, translational research refers to research undertaken with the specific aim of creating economic value and/or social impact.
For instance, scientists working on solar cell technology want to discover and create cheaper and better materials and technologies to make the transition to green energy affordable and accessible. This is a typical example of translational research, which directly leads to economic value creation, social impact through job creation and health improvements, and environmental impact through green and efficient technologies.
Every technology originates as an idea and progressively develops into a saleable product or service. TRL levels indicate the progression of technology from an idea to a product. TRL 0 is the idea stage, and TRL 9 is a market-ready product/service.
Translational research is typically considered to fall between TRLs 4 and 7.
There are several direct and indirect success metrics of translational research.
Direct:
● Startup creation and revenue generation
● IP creation and licensing revenue generation
Indirect:
● Knowledge, capability, and know-how creation: TRL advancements, scientific publications,
and awards.
● Infrastructure and research capacity creation
● Ecosystem creation: Skill development, entrepreneurship, knowledge-sharing, industry-
academia collaborations
● Employment generation
Some examples:
● C-CAMP, Bangalore: The ATRACT-Life program is an integrated Research Translation & Commercialization program, created with the primary goal of fostering
innovations for society by leveraging the strength of Indian academic research and C-CAMP’s translational resources
● Wadhwani Research Centre for Bioengineering (WRCB) has been set up to be a world-class translational research centre in bioengineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay).
● National Centre for Combustion Research and Development (NCCRD) at IIT Madras, develops state-of-the-art capabilities in combustion research. It is the world’s largest combustion research centre. NCCRD's research interests include automotive, thermal power and aerospace propulsion, fire research and microgravity combustion.
Bridging the funding and resources gap in translational research in India, fast tracking the research to market cycle.
ITRI stands for India’s Translational Research Initiative (ITRI). It is a collaborative philanthropy initiative
to strengthen India’s translational research ecosystem, working in close collaboration with academic
entrepreneurs, research institutions, corporations, government and incubators / accelerators
Those academics who show an entrepreneurial bent of mind, willing to undertake new initiatives and
sustaining effort.
Those who have a track record of undertaking research that leads to commercialisation. Also, by
introductions and referrals from identified researchers.
India spends only 0.6% of its GDP on research and development, far lower than the United States (3.5%), China (2.4%), and Brazil (1.1%), among many others. India is at risk of being stuck in the middle-income gap, unless it is able to grow at a sustained pace for the next 2 decades.R&D investments can have a long gestation period to show results in output. As a result, India must
make the best use of evolving opportunities in the green economy, value-added manufacturing,
bioeconomy, among others. Investment in R&D today will help India to shore up its capabilities today as well as be ready for the evolving opportunities of tomorrow.
ITRI aims to catalyse translational research in India by way of a collaborative philanthropy model. This would entail the following -
● Engaging with the top 20 research institutes (such as the IITs, IISc, C-CAMP, ICT, CEPT Ahmedabad, among others), to seek out proposals for setting up / augmenting TRCs in priority technology areas that ITRI has identified
● Engage with the donor ecosystem to raise resources for funding TRCs
● Setting up common backbone infrastructure and services that would be available to all TRCs in
the ITRI network
● Monitoring the progress of the TRCs based on aligned objectives and indicators
● Engage with the government, corporates, incubators, mentorship networks, to strengthen the
ecosystem for translation and commercialisation
ITRI is likely to be set up as a section 8 company. ITRI is being advised by the legal firm, Trilegal for the same.
ITRI is anchored by Spectrum Impact, led by Mirik Gogri. Spectrum Impact is the family office of the
Gogri family, the promoters of Aarti Industries. Spectrum Impact undertakes investment and
philanthropic initiatives, committed to solving large-scale societal problems with innovative solutions.
Dr Abdur Rub has been appointed as the CEO and the first employee of ITRI. Sattva Consulting, an impact advisory company, is the knowledge partner, supporting with structuring,
donor engagement and programme management for the initiative.
ITRI will set up a tiered governance structure, such as the following -
● Governance board, for providing strategic direction and oversight. ITRI is engaging with individuals such as Mr Nandan Nilekani, Mr Kris Gopalakrishnan, Mr Ashish Dhawan, to be a part of the board
● Management Group, comprising of representation from academia, industry, philanthropy, to provide oversight and management on the running of ITRI
● Global Scientific Advisory Group, comprising of globally renowned scientists, providing guidance
on best practices and technology advisory for the initiative
● This structure would be managed by the CEO of ITRI, who will act as the Secretary to the Board
ITRI is envisioning to raise USD 1 billion over the next 5 years for the mission
The rules relating to Intellectual Property will be as per the policies of the respective institutions which
will host the TRCs, in compliance with India's IP laws. ITRI will not own any of the IP
● Globally benchmarked, state-of-the-art infrastructure
● Focus on talent development
● Equitable access to technology
● Solving for India and for the Global South
● Operational excellence
ITRI is in conversations with various government stakeholders and institutions, including the
Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF). ITRI is exploring an MOU with ANRF, to engage closely on ecosystem engagement, recognition for donors, alignment of priorities, as well as potential co-funding
The government is already a major funder for research in India, contributing to over 50% of the total
R&D expenditure. In comparison, in major economies the government contribution to R&D is close to 10%, majority of the funding from private and philanthropic capital. While the government funds the basic research, we need more private capital to boost translational research.
However, given the long gestation period for research and development to show results, there is an
inherent market failure. Therefore, the government has a role in conducting and financing research as
well as creating a robust regulatory environment to support the same.
● Entrepreneurs in Residence will engage with relevant industries to commercialise the technologies being developed.
● ITRI will work with corporates to fund translational research from their CSR or business budget.
● ITRI will develop different programs to engage with corporates, like mentorship, industry connects, procurement programs and more
● Funding the TRCs and research activities in the TRCs
● ITRI fellows and EIRs overseeing the commercialisation activities at the research institutions
● Monitoring KPIs as per alignment
● Offering the common backbone services to the TRCs
● Providing strategic guidance to the institutions as necessary
● Nation-building effort, supporting economic development in the medium and long-run
● May align to specific areas of interest they may have
● Create industry-wide impact
● Corporates can support specific R&D projects that can get them to own new IP for their
business
● Boost their innovation credentials
● Change paradigm of development, beyond specific programmatic interventions via CSR
● CSR compliance is taken care of for funding research
ITRI will have a dedicated online presence, through a website and social media accounts, that will
capture the relevant updates. Additionally, ITRI will also share quarterly newsletters to the registered members as needed.
Lastly, ITRI is going to plan for an annual event, which will bring industry, donors, academic partners,
government stakeholders on the same platform, to share and recognise the work and celebrate wins.
ITRI has created different donor archetypes -
● Anchor Funders - Supporting ITRI with core funding, enabling access to networks for
evangelising ITRI in the ecosystem
● Innovation Champions - Furthering ITRI by supporting specific research centres or critical
backbone services, based on strategic interest
● Enabler Circle - Augmenting research centres by way of strategic project funding, or supporting
key modules such as Entrepreneurs-in-Residence
ITRI will incentivise donors by way of the following -
● Naming rights to the TRCs for Anchor Funders and Innovation Champions
● Access to information on innovations and research from the ITRI network
● Early funders to be designated as “Founders”
● Recognition from ANRF, if possible
● Media coverage / social media amplification
Contributions towards setting up TRCs would flow directly to the research institutions, and not
as pass-through via ITRI. There are two possibilities -
● Most incubators (including C-CAMP) and academic institutions (including the IITs) and would fall under the criteria of (ix)(a) and (ix)(b) of Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013, which allows for funding in contribution mode to be sufficient for CSR compliance. Meaning that the spends, once contributed, will be sufficient for compliance, and it would not require utilisation in the same year
● Some of the institutions have created a separate section 8 company to receive funds. Each such Section 8 company will undergo detailed due diligence by ITRI, to ensure all
relevant compliances are in place. Such a contribution would require utilisation certificate, which will be duly provided to donors