The methodology is structured around five distinct steps, providing a comprehensive understanding of the business and its impact on the circular economy. Additionally, it helps identify potential weaknesses that could become bottlenecks in the future development of the business.

The five steps are as follows:

  • Comprehensive company analysis, including a technological assessment of the process of Technology Readiness Level (TRL), the degree of innovation it introduces to the market, and an evaluation of the current market landscape, including competition. This section also represents a self-assessment phase, where companies are encouraged to reflect on and share their perspectives regarding technology.

In the following steps, phases 2 to 4, the methodology applies a scoring system to analyse various dimensions, using a scale from 1 (no relevance or importance to the green circular economy) to 5 (highly important or relevant to the green circular economy).

  • Company classification, which aims to define the company’s sector of application and establish a clear strategic focus.
  • New circular readiness criteria, developed by Aitiip, go beyond the traditional TRL framework. These include Business Readiness Level (BRL), Organizational Readiness Level (ORL), Environmental Readiness Level (ERL), Legal and Ethical Readiness Level (LERL), and Societal Readiness Level (SRL). This step provides a holistic view of the company’s positioning within the market, in relation to its technology.
  • Expanded assessment dimensions, covering additional factors such as proactive public behaviour, supportive legal frameworks, an effective end-of-life economy, efficient waste management, and detailed industrial classification.

Finally, companies should conduct their own market research to identify the most suitable entry point for introducing their solution, considering the insights gained from the previous steps

  • Market research, conducted by Aitiip, focuses on the target markets of participating companies and offers a thorough and detailed market overview. Finally, companies are encouraged to conduct their own market research to identify the most appropriate entry point for introducing their solution, considering the insights gained from the previous steps.

Under this framework, a new company aiming to introduce its technology into a circular market can gain a comprehensive understanding of all influential factors, from technological and behavioural aspects to legal and policy considerations, which are essential for developing a sound business plan and operational strategy.