Balanced readiness level assessment (BRLa): A tool for exploring new and emerging technologies

• Published in: Technological forecasting & social change 2021-08, Vol.169, p.120854, Article 120854
• Main Authors: Vik, Jostein, Melås, Anders Mahlum, Stræte, Egil Petter, Søraa, Roger Andre
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acceptance readiness level; Advisory services; Agricultural development; Agricultural technology; Evaluation; Market readiness level; Methodology; New technology; Organizational readiness level; Precision farming; Regulatory readiness level; Technological readiness level; Technology assessment
• ISSN: 0040-1625; 1873-5509
• DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2021.120854

•The paper develops a methodology for a balanced readiness level assessment of new agricultural technologies.•Technology readiness level (TRL) are supplemented with market readiness level (MRL), regulatory readiness level (RRL), acceptance level readiness (ARL), and organizational level assessment (ORL) to build the balanced readiness level assessment (BRLa).•The authors explore the applicability of the new methodology on 36 new agricultural technologies and one in-depth case study.•The new methodology includes a tool for illustrating results in the shape of a pentagon. In this paper a methodology for a balanced readiness assessment of novel agricultural technologies is developed and presented. The methodology expand on the well-known Technology Readiness Level (TRL) assessments, with a method for assessing TRL as well as Market Readiness Level (MRL), Regulatory Readiness Level (RRL), Acceptance Readiness Level (ARL), and Organizational Readiness Level (ORL) in concert. In the article the Balanced Readiness Level assessment (BRLa) methodology is employed and illustrated on 1) a set of 36 novel agricultural technologies, and 2) on the development of a technology for virtual agricultural fences. The empirical applications in this article indicates that the BRLa- methodology may serve as a fruitful approach for a compound assessment of emerging technologies. The methdodology is relevant for actors involved in advisory services, funding, investment and technology development.