AI regulatory sandbox

An AI regulatory sandbox (Article 57) is an environment set up by a national authority in which companies can develop, train and test AI systems for a limited time, under supervision and with guidance on how to comply.

Benefits for participants: support from the authority, an agreed testing plan and, if guidance is followed in good faith, no fines for what is done inside the sandbox. The documentation produced can later help demonstrate compliance. SMEs and, after the Digital Omnibus, small mid-caps get priority and free access.

Each Member State must have at least one in operation; the Digital Omnibus pushed that deadline to 2 August 2027. Spain was a pioneer with a pilot sandbox launched in 2023.