The electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide by means of renewable electricity holds great promise. However, despite significant progress in current literature, there remains a significant gap between fundamental research and the industrial demands to establish new disruptive technologies in real world applications. This gap primarily arises from a mismatch between performance parameters and requirements in both areas, leading to significant challenges in technology transfer. We herein suggest pathways to bridge this gap and outline current limitations in the field, proposing key parameters and procedures towards accelerated and streamlined technology development.