Strategies
Update 22.12.2025Learn about all the current digital strategies, as well as their respective action plans.
Regulatory Sandboxes | ZLT
Last update of the initiative: 14/06/2022
Spaces for demonstrating and testing new technologies that require specific and adapted regulatory frameworks.
What are Regulatory Sandboxes?
They constitute a “safe space” where companies can test products, services, business models, and innovative delivery mechanisms without immediately facing all regulatory consequences related to the activity in question.
They are designed to allow testing and experimentation in real or near-real conditions, under direct and ongoing supervision by the competent regulatory authorities, including guidance, recommendations, and information provision—corresponding to the concept of regulatory sandboxes.
Portugal thus joins a select group of countries that have implemented similar frameworks: Australia, Canada, India, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.
Objectives
01
Promote PORTUGAL’S POSITIONING in R&D activities and national participation in international projects
02
Attract INNOVATIVE PROJECTS and foreign investment related to emerging technologies
03
Promote a CULTURE OF EXPERIMENTATION to ensure the sustainability of technological development
Benefits
New products and processes: development and/or implementation of technologies, innovative products, services, and processes that could otherwise not be tested under the applicable legal framework (especially regulatory).
New knowledge: essential contribution to the development of industry and R&D institutions by accelerating the promotion of development and testing processes, as well as generating knowledge and intellectual property.
Emerging Technologies
The aim is to leverage all opportunities brought by new technologies, including:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Blockchain
- Bio- and Nanotechnology
- 3D Printing
- Virtual Reality
- Robotics
- Internet of Things
- Big Data
- 5G Network
Testing Authority
ANI is the Testing Authority and is responsible for:
- Managing the regulatory sandboxes network
- Approving the creation of new regulatory sandboxes and their regulations
- Supporting, supervising, and overseeing testing in innovation programs
- Receiving requests for legislative or regulatory review
Regulatory Entities
Regulatory Entities play a key role in supporting the creation of specific regulations for each Regulatory Sandbox and in monitoring their implementation.
The Regulatory Entities are:
Learn about the governance model for promoting technology-based innovation through the creation of Regulatory Sandboxes.
Access the Legislation.