Innovation model with global impact
Voices from the KTH Innovation Readiness Level Summit
In the innovation ecosystem, we often measure success by the number of ideas we support, how many startups we help launch, or how much capital they raise. Another type of impact that is harder to quantify but equally important is the connections we make, and the networks we weave across borders.
The second annual KTH Innovation Readiness Level Summit was a testament to this deeper kind of impact. Over two days in Stockholm, KTH Innovation welcomed over 70 participants from 18 countries to learn, connect, and co-create around the KTH Innovation Readiness Level modelTM (KTH IRL), now used by thousands of organizations worldwide.
“It’s amazing to see the impact the framework has had so far—and it feels like this is just the beginning,” said Lisa Ericsson, Head of KTH Innovation. “The fact that so many universities, incubators, and corporations around the world have embraced the model is far beyond what we could have imagined.”
It all started with an Excel sheet
As Donnie SC Lygonis shared during the opening two-hour Newbie Crash Course, it all began with a simple Excel sheet.
“Our first attempt at tracking project progress was a traffic light system to see which teams were moving forward and which were stuck,” Donnie explained. “But it quickly evolved into an Excel sheet from hell, and we knew we needed something better.”
Inspired by NASA
In 2008, during a visit to Silicon Valley, the team discovered NASA’s Technology Readiness Levels (TRL), a framework developed in the 1970s. Inspired by this model, KTH Innovation adapted it for startups—realizing quickly that building a business requires much more than just technology.
The result is the KTH Innovation Readiness Level model, a method, visual tool, and resource library guiding the development from early stage idea to innovation on the market.
The result: the KTH Innovation Readiness Level model, a structured visual tool and resource library that guides early-stage ideas through to market-ready innovation. Covering six key dimensions—Technology, Customer, Team, Funding, Intellectual Property, and Business—the model has been openly available under a Creative Commons license since 2021 and is now widely used across sectors and regions.
“A minute to learn, a lifetime to master."
One such adopter is RheinMain StartUpLabs:
“We came across this tool a few months ago and began applying it to specific tasks. What intrigued us was its flexibility—we realized it could be applied in many different use cases. That’s what brought me here: to explore how this tool could be used not just for team-related tasks, but also for internal challenges, broader ecosystem issues, and more”.
Over the two days, the summit brought together business coaches, R&D leaders, startup founders, and innovation professionals for workshops, peer exchanges, and showcases.
Gloria Cannone from Fondazione Hub Innovazione Trentino said:
“Eva (Halén, Business Coach at KTH Innovation) said it beautifully yesterday: “A minute to learn, a lifetime to master." That really resonated with me, because every time you use the tool, you go a little bit deeper. Having a shared framework makes conversations easier and more meaningful.”
Network in focus
For many, the biggest value came from meeting others tackling the same challenges. Peter Alešnik, attending his second summit, noted:
“What stood out to me this year is how the framework is evolving beyond KTH. It’s being applied in different contexts and environments, which means we’re not just learning to use it, we’re actually putting it into practice. What’s also important is that the framework is grounded in practical insights. While it may look theoretical at first glance, it’s actually built on real-world experiences. Whether you use it for coaching, service design, or implementation, it’s shaped by the work and feedback from the field. KTH Innovation is truly making a global impact.”
Linda Ramstedt Marklund is Director of Strategy & Portfolio at Vattenfall R&D and joined the summit to explore if the model could be implemented in their internal innovation processes.
“For a corporation, a framework like this is interesting because when something is already developed and is well-established, it becomes so much easier to pitch internally. It's a big difference to say "Hey, I found this online", versus being able to say "This is a framework that comes from KTH Innovation. It’s already being used around the world". That makes all the difference.
Next year, the KTH Innovation Readiness Level Summit will take place on 15–16. Sign up to get an invitation
Text: Lisa Bäckman