Hari Srinivas
	Policy Analysis Series C-052.

Note: This document does not discuss the term "Technology Readiness Levels (TRL)", but instead explores the policy implications of the concept to a country's capacities to face the challenges of sustainability.

Abstract:

In the context of sustainability and environmental impacts, particularly for developing countries, the new meaning of "technology readiness" goes beyond evaluating the maturity and feasibility of technologies for implementation. It now entails a comprehensive assessment of technologies with a heightened emphasis on their potential contributions to environmental sustainability and addressing climate change. Technology readiness, in this context, involves evaluating not only technical aspects but also considering the broader environmental implications, including carbon footprints, resource efficiency, and ecosystem impacts. Technologies that demonstrate a lower environmental footprint and align with sustainability principles are prioritized, recognizing their significance in supporting the achievement of sustainable development goals.

For developing countries, technology readiness also includes evaluating the suitability and relevance of technologies to the unique challenges faced in these regions. This assessment considers the local context, resource availability, and social implications to ensure technologies address the specific needs and priorities of the communities they serve. Additionally, technology readiness involves building local capacity and promoting knowledge transfer to empower developing countries to adopt and adapt sustainable technologies.

It requires fostering partnerships and collaborations with technology providers, research institutions, and international organizations to facilitate the transfer of knowledge, skills, and resources necessary for successful technology adoption and implementation. By embracing this new meaning of technology readiness, developing countries can strategically deploy sustainable technologies that not only drive environmental conservation but also contribute to their social and economic development aspirations.

Keywords:
technology readiness, sustainability, SDGs, environmental impacts, developing countries

T

It assesses the technological capabilities, feasibility, and robustness of a technology, taking into account factors like technical development, scalability, reliability, safety, and cost-effectiveness. Technology readiness is an essential concept in evaluating whether a technology is ready for widespread commercial use or deployment in real-world scenarios.

The term "technology readiness" is widely used in various industries, particularly in the fields of aerospace, defense, engineering, and innovation management. While it became popular during the space programmes of NASAThe US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the 1970s and 80s, it does not have a single specific originator, as it has been commonly employed by researchers, experts, and practitioners for many years. The concept of technology readiness has evolved as industries have sought ways to evaluate and prioritize the implementation of emerging technologies, ensuring they are sufficiently developed and tested before widespread adoption.

Relevance of the term to Developing Countries

Technology Readiness and the SDGs The concept of technology readiness plays a crucial role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by facilitating the effective deployment and integration of advanced technologies to address global challenges. Technology readiness assessments (TRAs) help identify and prioritize technologies with the potential to contribute significantly to the SDGs. By evaluating their maturity, adaptability, and scalability, decision-makers can focus on solutions that align with specific SDG targets, such as clean energy, improved healthcare, quality education, sustainable infrastructure, and climate action. TRAs assist in overcoming barriers to technology adoption in diverse contexts, including developing countries and underserved communities. By considering factors like affordability, local capacity, and infrastructure requirements, these assessments ensure that technologies can be effectively implemented in areas with resource constraints. understanding the potential environmental and social impacts of technologies helps mitigate risks and promote sustainable solutions that contribute positively to the SDGs. TRAs also enable governments, businesses, and organizations to create tailored policies and strategies that harness technological innovations for sustainable development. By integrating technology readiness considerations into national and corporate development plans, stakeholders can allocate resources more effectively, foster innovation, and promote the responsible deployment of technologies that accelerate SDG progress. Emphasizing technology readiness within sustainable development initiatives strengthens the global commitment to achieving the SDGs by 2030.

The concept of technology readiness is highly relevant to developing countries due to its implications for technology adoption and sustainable development. Some of the key issues of relevance include:

1. Technology Transfer and Adoption: Developing countries often seek to adopt and adapt technologies from more advanced economies to address their specific needs and challenges. Assessing the readiness of these technologies becomes crucial to ensure they can be effectively deployed in the local context and deliver the intended benefits.

2. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Many developing countries strive to achieve the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which encompass various social, economic, and environmental aspects. Evaluating the technology readiness aligns with the SDGs, ensuring that technologies support sustainable development efforts and contribute positively to local communities.

3. Resource Constraints: Developing countries may face limitations in financial, technical, and human resources. Understanding technology readiness helps them prioritize investments in technologies that are most likely to succeed and yield substantial benefits within resource constraints.

4. Technology Transfer Barriers: Technology readiness assessments shed light on potential barriers to technology transfer and adoption. Identifying gaps in local expertise, infrastructure, or policy frameworks can guide efforts to overcome these obstacles and facilitate successful technology integration.

5. Mitigating Risks: Investing in unproven or immature technologies without evaluating their readiness can lead to significant risks, such as wasted resources, project failures, or negative impacts on communities and the environment. Technology readiness assessments help mitigate such risks.

6. Economic Growth and Competitiveness: Access to advanced and well-adapted technologies can enhance productivity, competitiveness, and economic growth in developing countries. Assessing technology readiness aids in identifying opportunities for technology-driven development.

7. Climate Change and Environmental Impact: Many technologies play a role in addressing climate change and environmental challenges. Evaluating their readiness helps countries select appropriate technologies to reduce carbon emissions, conserve natural resources, and foster environmental sustainability.

8. Innovation and Research: Encouraging technology readiness assessments fosters a culture of innovation and research within developing countries. It promotes local capacity building and supports the development of homegrown solutions to address local challenges.

Technology readiness is of significant relevance to developing countries as it assists them in making informed decisions about technology adoption, optimizing resource allocation, and advancing their sustainable development goals. By carefully evaluating technology readiness, developing countries can harness the potential of technologies to drive positive change and improve the quality of life for their citizens.

Environmental impacts and Sustainability Criteria for Technology Readiness

Incorporating the criteria of environmental impacts and sustainability into technology readiness assessments requires a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach.

• Define Sustainability Metrics: Clearly define specific environmental impact and sustainability metrics relevant to the technology in question. These metrics may include greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, water usage, waste generation, material sourcing, and lifecycle analysis.

• Conduct Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs): Perform rigorous life cycle assessments of the technology to understand its environmental impacts at each stage, from raw material extraction to manufacturing, use, and disposal. LCAs provide valuable insights into the technology's overall sustainability performance.

• Compare with Alternatives: Evaluate the technology against potential alternatives or existing solutions to determine if it offers significant environmental advantages. Consider factors such as reduced emissions, improved resource efficiency, and minimized ecological footprints.

• Consider Local Context: Assess how the technology aligns with the specific environmental and sustainability challenges faced in the local context of its implementation. This involves understanding the region's unique ecological, social, and economic conditions.

• Evaluate Environmental Regulations: Examine the technology's compliance with local and international environmental regulations. Technologies that align with and support environmental goals and regulations are more likely to be sustainable in the long term.

• Engage Stakeholders: Involve relevant stakeholders, including environmental experts, local communities, and environmental NGOs, in the technology readiness assessment. Their perspectives can provide valuable insights into potential environmental impacts and sustainability considerations.

• Prioritize Sustainable Features: Give weight to sustainability criteria when scoring or ranking technologies during the readiness assessment process. Prioritize technologies that demonstrate strong environmental performance and align with sustainability goals.

• Consider Adaptation and Mitigation: Assess the technology's potential to adapt and mitigate environmental impacts over its lifecycle. Technologies that can be upgraded, repaired, or repurposed to extend their useful life may have lower environmental footprints.

• Conduct Pilot Projects: Before full-scale implementation, consider conducting pilot projects to assess real-world environmental impacts and validate initial assessments. Pilot projects offer opportunities to make necessary adjustments and improvements based on actual data.

• Develop Sustainability Roadmaps: Integrate sustainability considerations into technology development and deployment roadmaps. Set targets for improving environmental performance and outline actions to achieve sustainability goals over time.

By incorporating environmental impact and sustainability criteria into technology readiness assessments, organizations can make more informed decisions, adopt technologies that promote sustainable development, and contribute positively to environmental conservation efforts. This approach aligns technology deployment with broader sustainability objectives and helps create a more resilient and responsible future.

Applying Technology Readiness Policies at the National Level

Applying the concept of technology readiness at the national level (in contrast to a specific company or technology) involves a broader assessment of the country's overall readiness and capacity to adopt and integrate technologies for sustainable development.

It involves the development of a "Technology Readiness Index (TRI)", taking into account factors such as digital infrastructure, availability of skilled workforce, research and development capabilities, and the regulatory environment. This index can help policymakers and stakeholders identify areas that need improvement to enhance the country's overall technology readiness.

The TRI can also help develop a National Technology Readiness Strategy, outlining the national approach to technology readiness and its integration into various sectors, such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and infrastructure. The strategy can focus on building local capacity, promoting innovation, and fostering technology transfer to address specific development challenges.

Implementing technology readiness strategies requires technology adoption and diffusion programmes, including providing training and capacity-building support to communities and businesses, incentivizing technology use, and fostering public-private partnerships for technology development and deployment.

A comprehensive assessment of the barriers and challenges that hinder technology readiness in the country (for example, financial constraints, lack of infrastructure, digital literacy gaps, and regulatory hurdles) is also essential to create an enabling environment for technology adoption.

Collaboration and knowledge sharing will also leverage best practices and experiences from other developing countries and regions. Learning from successful technology readiness initiatives can provide valuable insights and accelerate progress toward achieving sustainability, particularly the SDGs.

Of equal importance at the national level is to develop policies that promote localized technology innovation and research and development. This will help address the specific needs and priorities of the country and support homegrown solutions more relevant and context-specific that align with local environmental and social conditions.

Underlying a strong readiness strategy at the national level is appropriate capacity building and education - to equip the workforce with the necessary skills and knowledge to embrace technology effectively. This includes promoting digital literacy, STEM education, and vocational training to empower individuals and businesses to engage with and benefit from technology.

Applying the concept of technology readiness to a developing country requires a holistic approach that involves collaboration between government, private sector, academia, and civil society. By fostering a technology-ready environment, developing countries can harness the transformative power of technologies to achieve sustainable and inclusive development, improve quality of life, and address pressing developmental challenges in a rapidly evolving world.

Technology Readiness Criteria in Developing Countries

When assessing technology readiness in developing countries, specific criteria are used to understand the technology's potential for successful adoption and implementation in the local context. Examples of criteria commonly used in such assessments:

Affordability and Cost-effectiveness: The technology should be financially viable and cost-effective for implementation in the developing country, considering its economic conditions and available resources.	Infrastructure Requirements: Evaluate whether the necessary infrastructure, such as power supply, internet connectivity, or transportation, is available to support the technology's deployment and functionality.	Local Capacity and Skills: Assess the availability of skilled labor and technical expertise required for operating and maintaining the technology within the developing country.	Adaptability and Customization: Consider the technology's adaptability to suit the specific needs and challenges of the developing country, as well as its ability to be customized to local requirements.	Energy Efficiency: Evaluate the technology's energy consumption and efficiency, as energy availability and reliability may be a concern in some developing regions.
Scalability and Reliability: Determine whether the technology can scale up to meet increasing demands and if it can operate reliably in challenging environments with potential infrastructural limitations.	Environmental Impact: Analyze the technology's potential environmental impacts, including greenhouse gas emissions, waste generation, and resource usage, in line with sustainability goals.	Regulatory Compliance: Ensure that the technology complies with relevant local regulations and standards, considering any legal or policy requirements that may affect its implementation.	Social and Cultural Acceptability: Assess the technology's compatibility with local social norms, cultural practices, and community acceptance, as cultural factors can significantly influence adoption.	Accessibility and Inclusivity: Evaluate whether the technology is accessible to diverse populations, including those in remote areas or with disabilities, to ensure inclusivity.
Technological Transfer and Intellectual Property: Consider technology transfer arrangements and intellectual property considerations to facilitate the technology's transfer and local ownership.	Market Readiness and Demand: Assess the potential demand and market readiness for the technology within the developing country to ensure its relevance and commercial viability.	Risk Assessment: Identify potential risks and challenges associated with the technology's implementation, including financial, technical, and social risks.	Policy and Regulatory Environment: Analyze the policy and regulatory landscape to determine how supportive the environment is for the technology's deployment and growth.	Impact on Local Economy: Evaluate the technology's potential impact on the local economy, including job creation and opportunities for local businesses.

By considering these criteria, technology readiness assessments in developing countries can facilitate informed decision-making, identify suitable technologies, and promote sustainable and successful technology adoption that contributes to the country's development goals.

Countries Implementing Technology Readiness Policies

While there might not be specific policies named "technology readiness policies," many countries have implemented initiatives and strategies aimed at promoting technology readiness and the adoption of advanced technologies. These policies often focus on assessing technology maturity, addressing barriers to implementation, and supporting the deployment of innovative solutions. Here are some examples of countries with initiatives related to technology readiness:

Singapore - Smart Nation Initiative: Singapore has been actively pursuing its Smart Nation Initiative, which focuses on leveraging technology and data to improve the quality of life for its citizens. The initiative involves testing and implementing various technologies, such as smart infrastructure, autonomous vehicles, and digital services, to enhance efficiency and sustainability in urban living.	South Korea - K-ICT Strategy: South Korea has developed the "Korea Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Strategy" to enhance technology readiness and innovation in various sectors. The strategy includes initiatives like fostering AI and 5G technologies, promoting digital transformation, and supporting start-ups and R&D projects.	United Arab Emirates - UAE Vision 2021: The UAE Vision 2021 outlines the country's ambitions to become a knowledge-based economy and a global technology hub. It emphasizes developing technology readiness across sectors, encouraging innovation, and creating an environment conducive to technology adoption.
Finland - Digital Finland: Finland has pursued a national strategy called "Digital Finland" to promote digitalization and technology readiness. The strategy aims to enhance digital infrastructure, foster digital skills, and encourage the adoption of emerging technologies in both the public and private sectors.	India - Digital India: India launched the "Digital India" campaign to transform the country into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. The initiative focuses on technology readiness through various measures, including digital infrastructure development, e-governance services, and technology-enabled education and healthcare.	Germany - Industry 4.0: Germany has embraced the "Industry 4.0" initiative, which emphasizes the integration of advanced technologies, such as IoT, AI, and automation, into its manufacturing sector. The goal is to enhance productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness through technology readiness.
China - Made in China 2025: China's "Made in China 2025" policy aims to transform the country into a leading global technological power. It focuses on fostering innovation, promoting R&D, and upgrading industries through technology readiness and advancements.	Rwanda - Vision 2020 and Smart Rwanda Master Plan: Rwanda has been focused on leveraging technology to drive economic development and improve citizen services. The Vision 2020 and Smart Rwanda Master Plan aim to transform Rwanda into a knowledge-based economy by investing in digital infrastructure, e-government services, and ICT education to enhance technology readiness across the country.	Japan - Society 5.0: Japan's Society 5.0 vision envisions a human-centered society empowered by technological advancements. It aims to integrate cutting-edge technologies like AI, IoT, and robotics to solve social challenges, promote sustainable growth, and enhance quality of life, all of which require a strong focus on technology readiness.