AI Regulatory Sandboxes: join the EUSAiR Pilots!

What is EUSAiR? 

EUSAiR is a major European initiative supporting the implementation of AI regulatory sandboxes across the EU to foster AI innovation and competitiveness, improve legal certainty for innovators and facilitate regulatory compliance with the AI Act. Supported by the European Commission’s AI Office, EUSAiR brings together a multidisciplinary consortium to offer legal, technical, and operational guidance for AI development across the EU.

From October 2025 to April 2026, the EUSAiR Pilots give AI providers, regulators, and support infrastructures across the EU a unique space to experiment, exchange real use cases, and test them directly against the AI Act. Together, participants and the EUSAiR team collaborate to co-design the next generation of AI regulatory sandbox procedures, shaping how the AI Act will be implemented in practice across Europe.

By joining the pilots, participants gain: 

• hands-on experience with compliance pathways under the AI Act
• early identification of regulatory risks, and how to address them
• access to expert support and regulatory guidance tailored for the AI system
• support for derisking their AI systems before market entry 

 From health and education to agriculture, manufacturing, mobility, finance, HR, public administration, and environmental sustainability, these pilots spotlight how AI shapes every corner of our society and economy. Each use case helps clarify real regulatory challenges and ensures that the future of AI governance works across all domains where AI truly matters. 

For more information, consult the EUSAiR Pilots website

Who Can Apply?

EUSAiR welcomes a broad mix of actors across the EU AI ecosystem:

• AI Providers of all sizes (startups, SMEs, large enterprises, public or private developers).
• National Competent Authorities seeking to refine their own sandbox practices and align with EU-wide approaches.
• European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs), Testing and Experimentation Facilities (TEFs), and AI Factories, especially when supporting participating providers.
• Research institutions, technology partners, and other organisations involved in AI experimentation or regulatory preparedness.

Any use case that raises meaningful regulatory questions: classification, high-risk requirements, conformity assessment, data governance, risk mitigation, interoperability with other EU laws (e.g., GDPR, MDR), is eligible.

How to Apply?

The application process is designed as follows:

• Applications are now open on the EUSAiR website, with a dedicated “EUSAiR Pilots (https://eusair-project.eu/pilots/)” page providing forms and technical documentation.
• Applicants submit a short proposal describing their AI system, regulatory challenges, and preferred testing environment (advice and guidance, digital sandboxing).
• After submission, candidates are invited to a one-hour meeting to discuss their system, regulatory questions, documentation, and expectations.

Participation is free of charge, and EUSAiR does not claim any IP. Confidentiality, data protection, and cybersecurity are handled with strict safeguards by our ICSC partner. 

Selected participants will join Cohort 2 (from January to March 2026).

Additional Resources

For deeper details, you can explore:

• Pilot Guide on EUSAiR website: https://eusair-project.eu/app/uploads/2025/09/PilotGuide_EUSAiR_JVG_20250911.pdf
• EUSAiR Website Library: https://eusair-project.eu/library/