Phase 1: Feasibility Study

The goal of the first phase is to estimate if it is feasible to pilot the innovation. In this phase, the technical, social and financial feasibility and the related risks are explored. Guidance from CREF is offered for the analysis in this phase. If your application is selected to proceed with this first phase, agreements about the timeline and deadlines are made with the Innovation Board. The Innovation Board might allocate a budget to cover the hours of analyzing the feasibility – this budget is based on the estimations made in the Fast Check.

The result of this phase is a slide deck of a proposal for implementation of the innovation, including the selection of a specific building and financing options. Based on this proposal, the Innovation Board will decide on continuation to the second phase: Implementation Study.

Project Team formation & Kick-off

In discussion with Cees Henzen (CREF), the submitter(s) of the innovation will compose a project team. To start the feasibility study, a kick-off meeting will be organized. This meeting will cover the feedback from the Innovation Board and decide on the most relevant actions to be taken during this phase.

Decision Making Unit (DMU)

In order to make the implementation of the innovation as smooth as possible, it is important to inform, and in some cases, to consult the DMU in this stage. The DMU is a collection of persons who have influence on the decision making in the process of applying an innovation. For example, think of people from TNO Corporate Services like Corporate Legal & Compliance and Information Services or management from units like ECN part of TNO, Circular Economy & Environment and Buildings, Infrastructure & Maritime.

Technical Suitabilty

To implement the innovation in one of the buildings of TNO, it is necessary to have an overview of all the technical (and practical) requirements for success. These requirements are the basis for choosing the most suitable TNO location for application and assessing the impact of the innovation on the other processes running within TNO (undisturbed working environment, IT, etc..).

Midterm Review

During the midterm review a pre-selection of TNO buildings is made, to match the innovation with a suitable implementation location.

 (Alignment) Planning

Based on the suitable building, a rough planning of the activities needs to be delivered. If the innovation will be implemented in a new or to-be-renovated building this means the timeline of the primary process of building/renovating, use and maintenance and the timeline of the R&D planning of the innovation need to be aligned. If the innovation will be applied in an existing building, then only the latter R&D planning needs to be clear.

 (Social) Impact

Determine what the (social) impact of the innovation is. For example, think of the impact on the environment or on the image of TNO. Also clarify how the innovation influences the performance of the building in question and what it means for the people working in it, both during the installation and after the implementation of the innovation.

 Value Case

The project team is responsible for setting up a value case and/or initial investment proposal. This proposal is twofold: One research-oriented part including research questions and one facilities part including preliminary investment costs and possible (social) gains. The project team can ask for help from the CREF team.

Finance Options

In support of the initial investment proposal/business case, a list of possible financing source options should be drafted. These options can range from earmarked research money to subsidy schemes that could be addressed.

Risk Assessment

For all the previous aspects (Decision Making Unit, technical suitability, planning, (social) impact, value case and finance options), risks can be identified that could have an impact on the application of the innovation. An overview of the risks, probability, impact and mitigation of the risks is necessary.

End Phase 1: Results Feasibility Study

The project team prepares a slide deck in which all the results from the feasibility analysis are combined. This includes the technical and social feasibility, the suggestion for a TNO-building and financing options.

The slide deck includes at least:

• • Description of the involved stakeholders (Decision Making Unit)

• • A list of all technical requirements necessary for implementation of the innovation

• • A (rough) planning combining the renovation plans of the building and the R&D planning of the innovation

• • An assessment of the (social) impact of the innovation.

• • An initial investment proposal (value case)

• • An overview of the finance options

• A clear risk analysis, including mitigation

This slide deck will be presented to the Innovation Board who will decide if the project team can continue to the second phase ‘Implementation study’. In this meeting, a ‘go/no go’ decision is made based on the presented feasibility of applying the innovation.