FROM LEGAL EXPERIMENTATION TO REGULATORY SANDBOXES: THE EU’S PIONEERING APPROACH TO DIGITAL INNOVATION AND REGULATION

This contribution explores the concept of regulatory experimentation as a strategic response to the challenges of regulating emerging technologies within conventional regulatory frameworks. The rapid pace of technological innovation often outpaces traditional regulatory approaches, necessitating a more agile and adaptive framework. Regulatory experimentation, particularly through the use of regulatory sandboxes, has emerged as a promising solution. These controlled environments allow companies to develop, test and refine innovative products and services under regulatory oversight, while regulators refine their frameworks in real time to ensure adaptability, market safety and compliance with public interest objectives. This contribution constitutes the introduction to a broader study that examines the theoretical underpinnings, design and practical implementation of regulatory sandboxes, highlighting their dual role in fostering innovation and ensuring compliance with public interest objectives. By examining the interplay between innovation, regulation and societal safeguards, this research contributes to the ongoing discourse on the governance of emerging technologies. It highlights the potential of regulatory sandboxes to strike a balance between technological progress and a safe, wellregulated internal market, ultimately informing the development of more effective and responsive regulatory frameworks.