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Good practice Imported

Ukraine's AI Sandbox — Ministry of Digital Transformation Tests 90 Applications Under Wartime EU Alignment

Ukraine · Kyiv · See the Ukraine profile · See the Kyiv profile

Evidence: Descriptive / self-reported Top 36% 67/100 · Ask Evidence Copilot about this practice

Ukraine's Ministry of Digital Transformation and the Ukrainian Startup Fund ran an AI regulatory sandbox that took 90 applications in its first year; 15 solutions passed audit by 23 experts, feeding a national roadmap and draft AI law aligned with the EU AI Act.

90
Applications received in first year (2025-2026)
15
Solutions passing audit (2025-2026)
23
Experts engaged in audits
2,600+
Active Ukrainian startups (2026)
Ukraine's AI Sandbox — Ministry of Digital Transformation Tests 90 Applications Under Wartime EU Alignment

Details

Maturity
Pilot
Promoter
Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine & Ukrainian Startup Fund
Period
2025–2026 (ongoing through October 2026)
Keywords
digital government, AI regulation, startup support, EU alignment

Context

Ukraine's Ministry of Digital Transformation (Мінцифра) launched an AI regulatory sandbox — the 'Innovation Sandbox' — in June 2025 together with the Ukrainian Startup Fund, part of a wartime effort to align the country's AI governance with the EU AI Act while continuing to support its tech sector (Ukraine counted over 2,600 active startups in 2026, a threefold increase since 2020).

Activities

In its first year the sandbox received 90 applications to test AI products; 15 solutions successfully passed audit by 23 engaged experts. The programme runs through October 2026, with officials signalling plans to extend and formalise it if results hold up.

Results

These results directly feed a published roadmap and white paper on AI regulation, informing a joint working-group draft AI law due to be finalised during 2026 that aims to balance the interests of society, the state and business under Ukraine's EU-alignment commitments.

Conclusions

No separate per-project exit reports have been published, and the throughput figures rest on a single ministry announcement corroborated by one independent outlet — useful evidence, but less granular than more mature sandboxes.

Implementation
Indicative cost
Low (< €50k) — Primarily an administrative review/audit process run by the Ministry and Startup Fund; no capital infrastructure described.
Time to results
Medium (1–3 years) — Launched June 2025; runs through October 2026 with possible extension pending results.
Staffing & skills
Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, Ukrainian Startup Fund, 23 engaged technical/legal experts (audit panel), Joint working group drafting the national AI law

Conditions for success

  • A formal application and audit process assessing AI products against defined criteria
  • A pool of engaged experts to review submissions
  • Direct linkage to legislative drafting (national AI law) so pilot results feed policy

Common failure modes

  • No separate per-project exit reports have been published
  • Throughput figures rest on a single ministry announcement corroborated by only one independent outlet

Commonly funded by

National / regional programmes

Indicative funding routes for practices of this type — always check each programme's current calls and eligibility rules.

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Data sources

Where this practice's information was retrieved from, and when.

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