This enables small companies to bring their innovations to market

An established industrial company that is developing a new product will often have a well-established process for bringing it to market. They are familiar with the necessary steps and have already verified much of the involved technology.

The circumstances may be different for smaller companies or start-ups that are building their business around a new technology.

"Smaller companies may well have brilliant research ideas. However, there is a long way to go from that point to the stage where the technology can be integrated into a manufactured product that is used in practice. Many aspects need to be verified along the way," says Eilert Johansson, senior business developer responsible for small and medium-sized enterprises at RISE.

Companies must progress from laboratory verification, through demonstrations, to operational conditions and a market-ready product. This challenge is particularly apparent at TRL 4–7 on the nine-level Technology Readiness Level (TRL) scale.

"This is where a so-called 'verification gap' can arise: the technology is promising, but it has not yet been verified enough for customers or investors to be willing to take the next step. This is when innovative companies risk ending up in the so-called 'Valley of Death', where projects or entire companies have to be put on hold or wound up", says Eilert Johansson.

Misjudged funding requirements

He cites a new battery material producing very good results in the laboratory as an example. However, before it can be used commercially, a series of tests must be carried out. These may involve ensuring that the material works with the battery’s other components and retains its properties under conditions such as fast charging, humidity, vibrations, and different temperatures.

Another interesting aspect in this particular case may be how the material’s properties change over time. The point is that there are many things that need to be verified and the process may take longer and be more complex than originally thought.

Eilert Johansson notes that underestimating testing and verification requirements naturally leads to greater time and capital requirements than anticipated.

"Verification data is therefore not just a technical matter, but also forms part of a company's business risk management. Demonstrating that the technology meets defined requirements step by step creates a better basis for technical decision-making. This also strengthens dialogue with customers, partners, financiers and investors ahead of the next development phase", he says.

Testing outside a controlled environment

However, planning the verification process at an early stage does not mean that all the tests required before market launch must be defined from the outset. The important thing is to understand which uncertainties need to be resolved first, and what evidence is required for the next decision.

In terms of the battery material, the next step could be to investigate how it behaves outside of a laboratory setting.

"For example, if it were to transpire that the properties change too much at certain temperatures, it would obviously be valuable to discover this before significant resources are invested in upscaling and other product development."

Verification should therefore be viewed as part of a coherent development process. This process may require the linking of applied research, product development, testing and upscaling in line with the company’s unique circumstances.

There are just over a hundred test environments.

RISE can support companies at various stages of development, providing expert knowledge and access to over a hundred test and demonstration environments. The starting point is always the company's specific requirements and the questions that need answering before development can proceed. This enables RISE to help integrate verification into the company’s development process, as Eilert Johansson explains.

"For many smaller companies, building up advanced testing infrastructure is not commercially viable, as it is only required at certain stages of development. With RISE's support for testing and verification, they can access the necessary equipment and expertise as and when required. This makes the innovation journey more systematic and predictable, while enabling technical and commercial risks to be identified at an earlier stage."