Cullen International published a new benchmark that surveys whether regulatory sandboxes have been launched in Europe at national level in three regulatory areas:

• data protection,
• data-related technologies (such as artificial intelligence (AI), connected cars, and digital identity), and
• telecoms.

It does not include, for example, regulatory sandboxes in the energy and financial sectors. The benchmark covers 16 European countries.

Regulatory sandboxes provide a real world, controlled environment that enable the testing of innovative technologies over a limited time and based on a plan agreed with competent authorities. Sandboxes typically allow for different degrees of regulatory relief (e.g. not being subject to certain rules) for their beneficiaries during the operation of the sandbox.

The benchmark shows that regulatory sandboxes in the covered areas are still nascent in Europe, as most of the surveyed countries have not implemented any. Only France, Germany and the UK have set up regulatory sandboxes managed by different authorities.

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