Development of the legal and concepual framework for the establishment and operation of a national regulatory sandbox for artificial intelligence

TITLE: Development of the legal and conceptual framework for the establishment and operation of a national regulatory sandbox for artificial intelligence

PROJECT CODE: V5-24064

PROJECT MANAGER: prof. dr. Vasilka Sancin

COORDINATOR: 583 - University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Law

PROJECT PARTNERS:

• 1608 - Institute for Comparative Law Studies at the Faculty of Law in Ljubljana
• 1539 - University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Computer and Information Science
• 504 - Institute of Criminology at the Faculty of Law in Ljubljana

DURATION OF THE PROJECT: 1. 10. 2024 – 30. 9. 2026

SCOPE OF FUNDING: EUR 100,000.00 from the agency's funds and EUR 100,000.00 from the funds of the Ministry of Digital Transformation, price category A

PROJECT TEAM COMPOSITION:

583 - University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Law:

• 24286 – dr. Vasilka Sancin
• 34950 – dr. Maša Kovič Dine 
• 58280 - Anže Mediževec

1608 - Institute for Comparative Law Studies at the Faculty of Law in Ljubljana:

• 25611 – dr. Matija Damjan 
• 57076 - Tjaša Kalin 
• 57281 - Lucija Strojan 

1539 - University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Computer and Information Science:

• 20389 – dr. Aleksander Sadikov 
• 33187 – dr. Vida Groznik 

504 - Institute of Criminology at the Faculty of Law in Ljubljana:

• 26029 – dr. Aleš Završnik 
• 38465 - Primož Križnar 
• 57666 - Kristina Lazarevič Padar 
• 57733 - Saša Krajnc 

FINANCERS:

The primary objective of the project is to establish and operationalize a national regulatory sandbox for artificial intelligence, providing a legal and substantive framework for testing new technologies and business models in the AI field in real-world settings. Special emphasis will also be placed on user and market responses to new technologies, as well as on measuring the effectiveness of innovations. An essential aspect of the study will also be the public response to innovations in the field of AI. The establishment of a regulatory sandbox will provide insight into the effects of current national and international legal regulations, particularly EU law in the field of AI, and identify necessary additions or amendments to the existing regulatory framework.

One of the key objectives of the project is to identify stakeholders involved in the process of testing new technologies in the regulatory sandbox, including authorities and organizations with significant decision-making powers related to the regulatory sandbox. In addition, the project aims to establish a robust legal framework for the regulatory sandbox that allows for the testing of innovations within the existing legal framework and the overcoming of potential legal barriers, while fully respecting, in particular, human rights and environmental protection regulations, and enabling and encouraging innovation that ensures competitiveness and adequately addresses liability issues. The substantive and legal framework established by this project will also allow the evaluation of the regulatory sandbox's effects, providing relevant and objective information on its achievements. In this regard, it is essential to cooperate with all relevant stakeholders, including governmental and non-governmental bodies and organizations, and the business sector, as well as to participate in relevant international discussions and processes.

The project will contribute to the development of research and development capacity in the field of AI in Slovenia. An essential aspect of this project is its interdisciplinary nature, as the research group fosters collaboration among universities, research institutes, and companies. This cooperation enables the exchange of knowledge, experience, and best practices, ultimately contributing to progress in the field of AI and strengthening the scientific and research community.

The project aims to strengthen international cooperation and Slovenia's visibility in the field of AI regulation and development (specifically in the area of legal and substantive regulation of regulatory sandboxes for AI). Active cooperation with European institutions and the organization of various dissemination events will facilitate the exchange of experiences and best practices, thereby raising awareness among experts and the broader public.

The project is divided into four work packages:

• Work package 1 (WP1): Project management and coordination
• Work package 2 (WP2): Preparation of a proposal for an appropriate legal basis – legislation for the establishment and operation of a regulatory sandbox for UIs
• Work package 3 (WP3): Preparation of a proposal for a management framework for the establishment and operation of a regulatory sandbox for UIs
• Work package (WP4): Preparation of a study and presentation of research results