AI 4 SCIENCE CONFERENCE, AI SANDBOXES TRACK: 24 September 2025

From Innovation to Regulation: The Role of AI Regulatory Sandboxes

Public Panel – AI Regulatory Sandboxes: Experiences and Practices (9:00-10:30).

(open to all conference participants)

This open session will focus on practical experiences, lessons learned, and innovative approaches in the design and operation of AI regulatory sandboxes worldwide. Sandboxes have become a key tool for enabling the safe and controlled testing of AI technologies and business models in real-life conditions, allowing innovators to better understand legal obligations while fostering responsible innovation.

The discussion will address how different jurisdictions have approached sandbox governance, from early pilot projects to more mature frameworks, and how these practices can guide the establishment of Slovenia’s national AI regulatory sandbox. Panellists from academia, industry, and regulatory bodies will share concrete examples of collaboration between developers, regulators, and other stakeholders, highlighting strategies that enhance trust, accountability, and transparency.

A special emphasis will be placed on the interaction between legal frameworks and technical realities, particularly in the context of the EU AI Act, and on how sandbox environments help identify gaps in existing legislation while promoting innovation. Participants will also gain insight into how public and market responses to AI innovations are assessed, ensuring that sandbox activities not only advance technology but also build societal trust in AI applications.

Moderator:

Joao Pita Costa, Chief Research Officer at the International Research Centre on Artificial Intelligence under the auspices of UNESCO (IRCAI)

Speakers:

• Dr. Livio Rubino, Legal and Policy Officer, Artificial Intelligence Office, Directorate-General for Communication Networks, Content and Technology, European Commission (online)

• Dr. Fabio Seferi, Co-leader of EUSAiR – EU Regulatory Sandboxes for AI, Working Group on Regulatory Issues

• Dr. Cristina Godoy Bernardo de Oliveira, Head of the Department of Legal Theory at the University of Sao Paolo and Member of the Executive Committee at the Centre for AI and Machine Learning (CIAAM)

• Dr. Petra Riter, BIH Johanna Quandt Professor for Brain Simulation. Director of Brain Simulation Section, Berlin Institute of Health

Closed Roundtable – Regulatory Dialogue on AI Sandboxes: From Design to Implementation (11:00-16:00)

(by invitation only)

This high-level, closed-door roundtable will bring together regulators, policymakers, and selected stakeholders for an in-depth and solution-driven dialogue. The discussion will focus on the practical challenges of establishing and operating AI sandboxes, including issues such as governance structures, resource allocation, inter-agency coordination, and integration with existing regulatory frameworks.

Participants will share hands-on experiences and institutional learning from jurisdictions that have implemented sandboxes, exploring how collaborative frameworks can enable the testing of innovative AI solutions while maintaining compliance with human rights, data protection, and ethical standards. Special attention will be given to balancing regulatory oversight with flexibility, ensuring that sandboxes remain an effective environment for fostering innovation without creating unnecessary barriers.

This dialogue will also examine how feedback from sandbox testing can inform future regulatory frameworks and help policymakers in Slovenia and other EU member states adapt legal and institutional responses to the fast-evolving AI landscape.