The Minimum Viable Pilot Plant ( <scp>MVPP</scp> ): A Lean Framework for De‐Risking Chemical Process Technologies

ABSTRACT The commercialization of novel chemical process technologies is frequently impeded by the valley of death, a critical gap between promising laboratory‐scale discovery and economically viable industrial production. This gap is largely defined by the prohibitive capital cost, extended timelines, and significant risk associated with traditional pilot plants. To bridge this gap, this paper introduces the Minimum Viable Pilot Plant (MVPP) framework: a lean, hypothesis‐driven approach to de‐risking process technologies through targeted, capital‐efficient experimentation. Grounded in both historical engineering practice and lean startup principles, the MVPP formalizes a reproducible method for maximizing the learning‐to‐capital ratio and generating high‐fidelity data to validate the most critical techno‐economic assumptions. Instead of replicating a full‐scale plant, the MVPP isolates and tests the single riskiest process element using minimal hardware. Its iterative application enables progressive de‐risking of complex, system‐level challenges. Illustrative case studies are presented to demonstrate how the MVPP model accelerates technology validation, reduces investment barriers, and democratizes innovation in the chemical industry. While the MVPP is a promising tool, it is not a panacea. Nevertheless, it can accelerate commercial chemical process innovation, particularly in resource‐constrained environments, and it opens opportunities for further studies.