Output
1) Preliminary Research Report on Regulatory Sandbox Practices
Purpose:
To identify and analyse international practices in regulatory sandboxes to promote innovation in emerging technologies, with a specific focus on green energy systems. The preliminary research report will provide baseline evidence for cross-economy policy dialogue by examining enabling policy conditions, regulatory flexibility models, and governance structures. It will also serve as the foundational technical input for the project’s capacity-building workshop.
Scope:
The preliminary research report report will include 4-6 comparative case studies from both developed and developing APEC economies, selected to reflect the diversity of regulatory and innovation contexts across the region. The proposed economies are:
-Japan – as a developed economy with advanced regulatory frameworks and strong experience in digital innovation applied to energy systems.
-Singapore – as a leader in fintech and digital sandboxes, applying lessons to energy and green technologies.
-Chile – as a developing economy with ambitious renewable energy targets and regulatory experimentation.
-Thailand – representing Southeast Asia, with ongoing efforts to balance innovation, regulatory flexibility, and energytransition.
-Mexico – as a large emerging economy with regulatory reforms in energy markets and growing interest in green digitalsolutions.
-Australia – as a pioneer in energy innovation and regulatory sandbox pilots for renewable integration.
These economies were chosen to ensure regional balance (North America, Latin America, Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, Oceania), and to highlight both advanced and emerging approaches to sandbox design, implementation, and governance.
Research Scope:
The research will focus on:
-Enabling policies and regulations supporting sandbox initiatives in green energy and digital innovation, highlighting how they foster commercialization of emerging technologies.
-Governance models and regulatory flexibility mechanisms.
-Stakeholder engagement (government, private sector, and innovators).
-Key implementation challenges and lessons learned.
-Transferable policy elements for wider APEC application.
Research Method:
A mixed-method approach will be adopted, including:
-Literature and policy review of regulatory frameworks, sandbox initiatives, and relevant international reports.
-Semi-structured interviews with regulators, policymakers, and private sector stakeholders involved in sandbox design/implementation.
-Online survey/questionnaire circulated to APEC experts to capture additional perspectives.
-Cross-cutting comparative analysis to synthesise trends, similarities, and differences across economies.
Content Structure:
-Executive Summary
-Introduction to Regulatory -Sandboxes in STI Policy
-Case Study Section (one per economy)
-Cross-cutting Comparative Analysis
-Preliminary Policy Observations
-Visual comparison tables and summary of findings
Timeline:
January 2026 – March 2026 Output Type:
Digital preliminary research report (~6000 words) with a standalone executive summary, infographics, and annexes.
Minimum length: 30 pages excluding annexes.
Preliminary research report to be circulated among participating economies for feedback prior to the workshop. It will identify leading sandbox models, enabling policy elements, and questions for policy discussion in the next project phase.
2) 2-Day Workshop - Sandboxes for Innovation in Green Energy Technologies
Purpose: To strengthen the capacity of APEC policymakers, regulators, and innovation ecosystem stakeholders to design and apply regulatory sandboxes that support the commercialization of green energy technologies.
Scope: The workshop will engage approximately 30–40 participants, including regulators, STI policymakers, innovation agencies, and green energy technology developers. Sessions will focus on case studies, sandbox implementation strategies, and policy design for adaptive regulatory environments.
Format:
Duration: 2 days Location: Lima, Peru Mode: In-person
Target: Representation from at least 11 APEC economies, with at least 50% of participants from developing economies and 40% female participation.
Timeline: 01–15 June 2026 Tentative Agenda:
Day 1 – Policy and Practice of Regulatory Sandboxes
Morning: Opening remarks, keynote presentations, and expert case study presentations
Afternoon: Breakout groups to analyze enabling conditions and sandbox models
Day 2 – Policy Dialogue and Capacity Building
Morning: Panel dialogue on policy coordination and STI governance Afternoon: Hands-on session on developing draft policy recommendations and cross-economy learning synthesis
Output Type: Workshop materials, participant list, key takeaways, policy inputs, and post-workshop survey.
All outcomes, lessons learned, and policy recommendations from the Workshop will be captured and integrated into the Final Report.
3) Final Report - Policy Recommendations and Innovation Ecosystem Insights
urpose:
To deliver a policy-oriented final report synthesizing the project's case studies, workshop outcomes, and expert contributions. The final report will provide evidence-based recommendations on the implementation of regulatory sandboxes to support STI-driven commercialization of green technologies across APEC economies.
Scope:
Highlights best practices and enabling policy conditions
Emphasizes cross-economy policy learning and innovation ecosystem development
Targets policymakers, regulators, and STI institutions from developed and developing economies
Includes 4–6 case studies, 4+ policy recommendations, and comparative policy analysis
Output Type:
Digital final report (~12000 words), with an executive summary, policy brief annex, and documentation of workshop inputs (agenda, participant list, summaries)
Minimum length: 45 pages excluding annexes. Content Structure:
Executive Summary
Introduction to Regulatory Sandboxes in STI Policy Case Study Section (one per economy)
Cross-cutting Comparative Analysis Policy Observations
Visual comparison tables and summary of findings
Timeline: Final version completed and submitted between September– October 2026
Comprehensive final report intended to guide regulatory and STI policymakers across APEC, enabling informed adoption and design of sandbox frameworks.
Outcome
Policy Innovation for Green Energy Commercialization: The Preliminary Research Report and the Workshop will result in practical policy recommendations for the adoption and design of regulatory sandboxes that support the commercialization of green energy technologies, including digital innovations.
As an immediate, measurable outcome, they will improve participants’ confidence in creating flexible, innovation-friendly environments that accelerate market entry for new technologies. This outcome will be monitored through the Post-Workshop Survey.
Strengthened Regional Capacity and Knowledge Exchange: The two-day Workshop will bring together STI policymakers, regulatory officials, and innovation ecosystem actors across APEC economies. It will present findings from the Preliminary Research Report (SN1), facilitate discussions on sandbox models, regulatory governance, and policy coordination, and gather feedback to refine the policy recommendations.
Enabling Sustainable Innovation Ecosystems Through Regulatory Sandboxes: By supporting adaptive regulatory frameworks and the inclusion of MSMEs and startups, the project contributes to long-term goals of innovation-led sustainable growth. It will help developing economies design innovation ecosystems that are better equipped to manage emerging technologies and accelerate green transitions. The final report will be a shared resource to strengthen STI governance and promote the responsible adoption of digital tools in green energy innovation that contribute to inclusive and resilient economic growth across APEC economies.
As a result of the Workshop and the Final Report:
-Participants will report increased confidence in applying sandbox models and innovation-friendly policies that accelerate market entry for green and digital technologies. (Measured by the Post-Workshop Survey.)
-Economies will engage in cross-economy knowledge exchange, fostering cooperation between policymakers, regulators, MSMEs, and the private sector to advance inclusive green energy innovation.
-The Workshop discussions will validate and refine policy recommendations, ensuring the Final Report reflects practical experience across diverse APEC contexts.
-The Final Report will be published in the APEC Publications Database, ensuring wide dissemination and access by stakeholders.
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries:
Policymakers, regulators, and private sector representatives who directly participate in the Workshop.
From the public sector: officials from ministries or agencies responsible for science, technology, energy, or trade (e.g., policymakers, technical officers, advisors).
From the private sector: startups, MSMEs, and industry representatives in sectors such as green energy, AI, and smart grids, who will contribute insights and benefit from the project’s capacity-building activities.
Secondary Beneficiaries:
Wider APEC stakeholders who may not attend the Workshop but will benefit from the project outputs, especially the Final Report. This includes policymakers, regulators, researchers, and private sector actors across APEC who will use the report as a reference for sandbox policy design and STI governance.
