Penny, JessicaJessicaPennyDlugoborskyte, VytauteVytauteDlugoborskyteDraper, KateKateDraperFonseca, AlvaroAlvaroFonsecaBaker, KateKateBakerChen, Albert S.Albert S.ChenManojlovic, NatasaNatasaManojlovicVojinovic, ZoranZoranVojinovic2024-06-072024-06-072024-06-01Blue-Green Systems 6 (1): 114-130 (2024)https://hdl.handle.net/11420/47803This paper proposes a specialised framework that integrates the Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) and the Commercial Readiness Index (CRI) to assess learnings from a Horizon 2020 (H2020) project on innovation development via the selection and enhancement of supporting tools and technologies for Nature-based Solutions (NbS) implementation and evaluation. We developed and applied the methodology to scout NbS-related innovations that are at a certain TRL and had the potential for commercial exploitation, and then included tailored activities to help these solutions to reach at least CRI-1 (i.e. have the business model outlined, initial market research done, business case formulated). The tools and technologies were assessed through a lens of innovation, explication, and upscaling. As a result, novel guidelines tailored for NbS innovations were established to introduce a participatory approach in TRL and CRI evaluations to support commercial exploitation for upscaling NbS into mainstream society through market uptake of H2020 frameworks.en2617-4782Blue-Green Systems20241114130IWA Publishinghttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/commercial exploitationCommercial Readiness IndexHorizon 2020Nature-based SolutionsTechnology Readiness LevelsSocial Sciences::330: Economics::333: Economics of Land and Energy::333.7: Natural Resources, Energy and EnvironmentTechnology::600: TechnologyTechnology::658: MarketingInnovating nature-based solutions: learnings from the EU Horizon 2020 RECONECT projectJournal Article10.15480/882.966310.2166/bgs.2024.04810.15480/882.9663Journal Article