India is at a pivotal moment in shaping the future of AI innovation – one that requires a careful balance of speed, scale and responsibility. Developed as part of the AI for India 2030 initiative by C4IR India at the World Economic Forum, this white paper outlines a two-part framework – strategic and operational – for planning, implementing and governing AI sandboxes that enable innovation while remaining inclusive, accountable and aligned with the public interest.
Sandboxes aim to unlock innovation by addressing key gaps in accessing data, infrastructure, models, validation tools and markets. Co-created with leaders and experts from government, industry, start-ups, academia and civil society, the framework presented offers a scalable, modular model that national and state governments and industry can adopt to build long-term platforms for responsible AI growth.
Once established, the AI sandbox ecosystem will empower start-ups to build and test solutions, enable regulators to generate real-time policy insights, support firms with innovation pathways, create research opportunities for academia and help deliver safer, smarter services to citizens.