Seventh AI Pact webinar on AI Innovation for SMEs and startups

On 27 November, the 7th AI Pact webinar was organised on AI Innovation for SMEs and Startups: Sandboxes, real-world testing, AI Act Service Desk and European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs).

This session explored how the European Union is fostering AI innovation while ensuring compliance with the AI Act, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups.

The European Commission is committed to balancing strict regulatory frameworks with the need to support AI innovators, enabling them to compete globally. This webinar delved into the role of the sandboxes, EDIHs, real-world testing and the AI Act Service Desk in creating a thriving ecosystem for AI development and deployment as foreseen in the AI Continent Action Plan and the recent Apply AI Strategy.

These initiatives aim to boost AI innovation and uptake while reducing administrative and financial barriers for SMEs — the driving force behind AI development in Europe. This webinar was targeted for SMEs, startups, AI developers, policymakers, and stakeholders interested in understanding how the EU is supporting AI innovation while ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks. Gain insights into practical tools and resources available to help your organisation test AI and implement the AI Act correctly.

The event was live streamed on our YouTube channel. You can also downloiad the slides (pptx).