AI Regulatory Sandboxes Webinar: Materials now available!

This session is part of a series of thematic webinars organised under the ongoing development of the AI ACTor Badge System. 

The webinar focused on AI regulatory sandboxes, providing an overview of their legal basis under the AI Act, practical examples of how EDIHs can cooperate within the wider European AI ecosystem to support implementation, and an introduction to the EUSAiR project, which contributes to the establishment and operation of AI regulatory sandboxes across the EU.

Key information and webinar highlights: 

The main aim of the webinar was to gather feedback and input from EDIHs on potential collaboration and involvement in AI regulatory sandboxes and the EUSAiR project. Key points covered included:

An explanation of the policy framework for AI regulatory sandboxes

• The role EDIHs can play within the AI regulatory sandbox pipeline, including:

  • Acting as a first point of contact for AI providers

  • Assessing the technical and legal readiness of AI systems for sandbox entry (maturity assessments)

  • Referring AI providers to suitable EU AI ecosystem actors

  • Supporting sandbox preparation, including defining regulatory challenges to be tested

  • Supporting sandbox participation through sector-specific expertise

• How EDIHs can collaborate with EU AI ecosystem actors, including Testing and Experimentation Facilities (TEFs)and AI Factories, to operationalise AI regulatory sandboxes

• An overview of actions undertaken within the EUSAiR project, including:

  • Development of guides and templates for establishing and operating AI regulatory sandboxes

  • Models for ecosystem cooperation

  • Pilot activities to test these guides and models

  • Opportunities for EDIHs to participate in these pilots

Following the presentations, the webinar moved into an interactive Q&A and active listening session. Participants were invited to raise questions and then took part in targeted discussions to gather input from EDIHs on potential collaboration and involvement with AI regulatory sandboxes, focusing on: (i) EDIH's current capabilities and readiness profiles, (ii) EDIH's strategic approaches to engagement with AI regulatory sandboxes and (iii) EDIH's planned engagement and actions in specific regulated sectors. These discussions were supported by interactive polls. 

The webinar materials, together with a summary of the main discussions, are available here.