Explorer

• Technology Management
  • What is Technology Management ?
  • The Five Principles of Technology Management
• Technology Planning
  • What is Technology Planning ?
  • The DE&S Technology Overview
• Roadmaps and Roadmapping
  • Introduction
  • What is Roadmapping ?
  • The Key Benefits of Roadmaps
  • The History and Policy of Roadmapping
  • Types of Roadmap
  • An Acquisition Roadmap Framework
  • Graphical Roadmap Elements
  • How to Generate a Roadmap
  • Using Workshops for Roadmapping
  • Roadmap Maturity Levels
  • Good Practice for Roadmapping
  • Examples of Roadmaps
  • Roadmapping Focal Points
• Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs)
  • What are TRLs ?
  • Applying TRLs
  • Project Management using TRLs
  • TRLs at Decision Points
  • TRLs in the Project Lifecycle
• System Readiness Levels (SRLs)
  • What are SRLs ?
  • Applying SRLs
  • How to Self Assess using SRLs
  • SRL Self Assessment Tool
  • Project Management using SRLs
  • SRLs at Decision Points
  • SRLs in the Project Lifecycle
• Technology Demonstrator Programs (TDPs)
  • What are TDPs ?
  • Funding and Implementing TDPs
  • Planning TDPs
  • Contracting and Completing TDPs

Content

What are Technology Demonstrator Programmes (TDPs) ?

Technology Demonstrator Programmes are short term projects (or project activities) that help demonstrate the level of maturity of technologies in support of capability management decisions.

They provide evidence for concept assumptions, foundation reviews, Project and Critical Design Reviews and Assurances and Gate submissions. They form part of the Technology Roadmap (TRM).

Why Employ a TDP?

Successive National Audit Office (NAO) reports have identified a gap between the Defence Science and Technology (DST) developed within the research programme and the technologies employed within the Equipment Support Plan (ESP).

ESP projects often employ existing, mature, low risk technologies, even though they result in reduced performance. This is in preference to pulling through technologies from the research programme which have the potential to provide greater performance but have a higher risk associated with them. This is compounded by ESP projects taking on performance requirements with challenging technical risks.

As a result, opportunities to progressively mature and exploit technologies are lost. TDPs can help bridge this gap.

When to Employ a TDP

Use TDPs when a particular capability need has a significant level of technology risk and uncertainty associated with it. For DST funded TDPs, this will occur when the research programme offers new or improved technologies which need evidence to support scientific assumptions.

Defining the input and output of a TDP in terms of Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) and System Readiness Levels (SRLs) means the benefit of the TDP to future projects can be assessed - these TRLs and SRLs would be included on the Technology Road Map.

Key Contacts

For further information or advice on Technology Demonstrator Programmes please contact the Programmes and Technology Group:

Post	Role	Phone
DESPTG-TD-TDF	Lead for formulation of the Technology Demonstrator Programme	Mil: 9352 33820 Civ: +44 (0) 117 913 3820

Change History

Change History

1 July 2010

Minor amendment to reflect organisational change.

1 December 2009

Minor amendments made to reflect name changes.