The TRL Model in the Accounting, Analytical, and Documentary Support of the Enterprise Innovation Process

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to substantiate the theoretical and methodological foundations for integrating the Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) indicator into the accounting, analytical support, and documentation system of enterprise innovation activities. Particular attention is paid to determining the role of technological maturity as a criterion for accounting decision-making regarding the classification of research and development costs, confirmation of the technical feasibility of innovation outcomes, recognition of intangible assets, and the formation of accounting policies for innovation-active enterprises. The relevance of the study is driven by the need to enhance the objectivity of accounting judgments and improve the documentation support of research and development (R&D) activities.

The study analyzes the evolution of scientific approaches to the interpretation of technological maturity, including engineering and technical, economic, system-innovation, and risk-oriented approaches. The expediency of distinguishing an accounting approach to technological maturity is substantiated, according to which TRL levels are considered a tool for organizing the documentary, analytical, and control support of the innovation process. A model for harmonizing technology readiness levels with R&D stages, primary documentation, and the requirements of International Accounting Standard (IAS) 38 Intangible Assets, National Accounting Standard (NAS) 8 Intangible Assets, ISO 56002, and ISO 16290 has been developed. A system of unified documentation of innovation activity results through the implementation of R&D-1 - R&D-4 forms is proposed, ensuring the recording of research, development, testing, and innovation implementation outcomes. The possibility of using TRL as an auxiliary indicator for distinguishing between research and development expenditures and supporting capitalization decisions is also substantiated.

The findings indicate that technological maturity has evolved from a purely technical indicator into a comprehensive interdisciplinary indicator that combines technical, economic, managerial, and accounting-analytical characteristics of the innovation process. The proposed approach enhances the reliability of documentary evidence related to R&D outcomes, minimizes the subjectivity of professional judgments in the recognition of intangible assets, and improves enterprise accounting policies. Prospects for further research are associated with the development of a methodology for auditing technology readiness levels (TRL) as a tool for confirming the legitimacy of development cost capitalization and intangible asset recognition. Important directions include the establishment of standardized audit procedures for assessing achieved TRL levels, the development of risk-oriented approaches to innovation auditing, and the regulatory implementation of TRL-based approaches in accounting and auditing practices of innovation-active enterprises.