Datasphere Initiative

Join the Regulatory Sandboxes Webinar Series! As African countries advance their digital transformation, regulatory sandboxes are becoming essential tools to experiment with innovative technologies and governance approaches in real-world conditions. Yet, translating this potential into practice requires clear frameworks and shared lessons. That’s where the Regulatory Sandboxes Webinar Series comes in, offering practical guidance and real-world insights from across Africa and beyond. In this two-part series, you will: 🔹 Understand the purpose and design of regulatory sandboxes for data governance 🔹 Learn from real-world sandbox experiences in Africa and globally 🔹 Explore practical tools and frameworks that support human-centric data regulation, use and infrastructure in Africa 📅 Don’t miss out! Register for upcoming sessions and discover how sandboxes can help shape Africa’s digital future: Webinar 1. Sandboxing Foundations: Tools for Data Governance. https://lnkd.in/dtgQjpj7 Webinar 2. A Deep Dive into Sandboxes. https://lnkd.in/dCBidR-c The series is organized by Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV), in collaboration with GIZ under the Data Governance in Africa Initiative and the Datasphere Initiative. #D4DataGOV #DataGovernanceAfrica #TeamEurope #GlobalGateway #D4DHub #DataGovernance #RegulatorySandboxes #Sandboxes #Innovation #DigitalTransformation

The regulator’s paradox of governing in an age of rapid innovation ⚡ — the need to protect while enabling, to act while learning, to regulate while remaining open to change. These are the dilemmas regulators face today. In this blog ✍️, I share reflections from our efforts at the Datasphere Initiative 🌍 equipping regulators for this era. https://lnkd.in/dvg_3c64 #AfricaSandboxForum #GlobalSandboxForum #DataGovernance #ResponsibleInnovation

It was an honor to address The I-Nation Global Summit, organized by MRANTI last week in Kuala Lampur. I spoke on a panel called Passport Booth – Playbook for Going Borderless. Specifically I shared insights on how #datagovernance could be turned into a competitive advantage for Malaysian start ups as they seek to grow their ideas globally. Good governance is always a good idea 😉 I also want to personally thank Maisarah Mohd Yusof Badzlan Khan Ibnu Mohamed for their warm welcome, hospitality and intellectually stimulating discussion. I look forward to future partnerships and discussion around Sandboxes and beyond! I would also like to thank the other speakers Linda Nguyen Schindler Eric Lee Dr. Pranpreya Sriwannawit Lundberg for sharing their insights, I thought we each brought diverse perspectives that complemented each other well and made for a very lively discussion! It was very impressive to see how start ups in the region are tackling issues such as food security, health tech, robotics and AI. For me, one of the best parts of travel is learning about different cultures and sparking ideas about how to tackle common problems. I am back in Paris this week feeling energized and hopeful about the future. Yes, there are big problems facing us, but with our collective human spirt and a change in mentality that global problems require global solutions, we can solve the most pressing challenges of the 21st Century! #INation2025 #NICE2025 #AI #HealthTech #FoodSecurity #GoingGlobal #TechForImpact #data

For many young people, digital finance isn’t just convenient: it’s their first experience managing money. Digital wallets and money apps are reshaping how they learn to save, spend, and take risks. This discussion was part of the Global Youth Tech Consultations, organized by the Datasphere Initiative and UNICEF Innocenti, exploring how youth view data across education and finance. Using our award-winning youth engagement methodology, 41 young participants from 22 countries co-designed ideas for safer, fairer, and more transparent digital finance. 🔗 Read the blog to discover their ideas for protecting the next generation of digital money users: https://lnkd.in/dweCFgi2 #FinTech #Youth4Data #DigitalFinance #UNICEF #ChildSafety #FinancialInclusion #DatasphereInitiative

Around the world, young people use digital tools to learn, but few are asked how those tools collect and use their data. This discussion was part of the Global Youth Tech Consultations, organized by the Datasphere Initiative and UNICEF Innocenti, where youth from 22 countries explored how data in education and finance shapes their lives — and how to make those systems more fair and trustworthy. Using our award-winning youth engagement methodology, the consultations created a safe space for participants to reflect, collaborate, and propose ideas for responsible EdTech data governance. Their insights highlight both the promise and the risks of data in education and why youth voices must be part of building a fairer digital future. 🔗 Read the full article to learn what young people had to say: https://lnkd.in/dK_9KxTF #UNICEF #EdTech #Youth4Data #DigitalInclusion #DataGovernance #DatasphereInitiative

On July 2025, the Global Sandboxes Forum (GSF) brought together an exceptional group of practitioners, regulators, and researchers from across continents to share their experiences and insights on the early stages of sandbox development. This expert-packed session also marked the launch of the Sandbox Assessment Framework #1, part of the GSF’s broader effort to bring methodology and practical instruments to a fragmented field. The outcome is the new GSF Insights Report, which distills these discussions and introduces the framework to the wider community. It offers practical guidance for policymakers, regulators, and innovators committed to strengthening sandboxes as a global tool for responsible innovation. Download and read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/dnGg6dUh #GlobalSandboxForum #DataGovernance #ResponsibleInnovation #DatasphereInitiative #Sandboxes #RegulatorySandboxes

From Texas’s Responsible AI Governance Act to Delaware’s AI Sandbox and Utah’s focus on AI-driven mental health tools, US states are using regulatory sandboxes to test new technologies under controlled conditions. At the same time, universities and federal agencies are launching operational sandboxes that give researchers and policymakers hands-on access to AI tools and datasets. Why does this matter? Because sandboxes are becoming critical instruments for balancing innovation with accountability and helping regulators and innovators learn together, while building public trust. In our latest article, Sophie Tomlinson and Nicholas Field explore: → The different models of U.S. sandboxes (regulatory vs. operational) → Examples from states, universities, and federal agencies → How sandboxes are entering U.S. and international policy debates Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dGYpXN66 #AISandboxes #AIRegulation #ResponsibleInnovation #DatasphereInitiative #Sandboxes

Are you a woman working in AI & Data in Brussels? If so, this might be just the thing for you: Dr Julia Stamm FRSA, She Shapes AI, and Sophie Tomlinson, Datasphere Initiative, are joining forces to host an informal evening of networking and discovery for female professionals working in the AI and data space in the EU's capital. We know there are many of you! 😉 🗓️ 24 September, 6-8pm CET 📍 Hosted by FARI - AI for the Common Good Institute at their Test and Experience Centre. 🍷 Drinks are kindly sponsored by Acumen Public Affairs. This is an invitation-only event with limited capacity. If you would like to join, please DM Dr Julia Stamm FRSA or Sophie Tomlinson. Karen Boers Laurence Renault Zuzana Púčiková Ungureanu Nicoleta

Atenção, falantes de português! Join us today, August 26, 2025, for the international debate "Regulação em Movimento: Um Diálogo sobre Sandbox Regulatório e Inovação". Our Executive Director, Lorrayne Porciuncula, will be a featured specialist in the International Block of the event, sharing valuable insights on regulatory sandboxes. Lorrayne will discuss global experiences, key lessons learned, and the critical role of capacity building and disseminating good practices, drawing from significant initiatives such as the Summer School held in Lisbon. The event is hosted by the Escola of AGU - Advocacia-Geral da União and will include perspectives from esteemed organizations that are highly relevant to Brazil, such as CEPAL/ONU, the Tribunal de Contas da União (TCU), the Autoridade Nacional de Proteção de Dados (ANPD), the @Procuradoria-Geral Federal (PGF), the Agência Nacional de Transportes Terrestres ANTT (ANTT), the ANAC - Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (ANAC), and the pioneering municipal initiative Sandbox.Rio. This diverse participation ensures a comprehensive view of sandboxes from those actively working with them or reflecting on their application with legal certainty within Brazil. We invite you to follow this crucial discussion online from 10h to 11h30 (Brasília time) via the Escola da AGU's YouTube channel. This is an excellent opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of sandboxes from both international and national perspectives. Watch live here, in Brazilian Portuguese: https://lnkd.in/gqb42t4U