Israel launches AI sandbox pilot for public education
The initial NIS 10 million in government funding will allow AI startups to test personalized learning solutions inside the classroom, intended to address systemic challenges such as teacher shortages, classroom overcrowding, and educational inequality.
The Israel Innovation Authority and the Israeli Ministry of Education have announced the launch of a new regulatory sandbox aimed at testing artificial intelligence tools in public school classrooms. The pilot program will enable technology companies to develop and trial AI-based personalized learning solutions within real educational settings.
The initiative, backed by an initial government investment of NIS 10 million ($2.9 million), is part of the country’s National Artificial Intelligence Program. Companies selected to participate will receive access to schools for pilot testing, regulatory support, and financial assistance from the Israel Innovation Authority.
"Artificial intelligence is poised to fundamentally change how we learn and teach. It allows the creation of a personalized path for each student, tailored to their needs, preferences, and learning pace. This is a real revolution, and the Ministry of Education has chosen to lead it in close cooperation with us," said Keren Nevo, VP of Growth at the Israel Innovation Authority. "The sandbox we are establishing will allow Israeli tech companies to operate within the education system itself, gain field experience, test their solutions in real-time, and gain a global competitive edge. Simultaneously, Israel’s education system will also benefit, by exposure to breakthrough technologies and through direct interaction between the Israeli educational sector and the local innovation community."
According to the program’s guidelines, participating companies must present technologies that support scalable and personalized learning experiences. These tools should adapt to individual students’ learning pace and style while meeting national standards for privacy, cybersecurity, data analysis, and user experience.
The sandbox is intended to address systemic challenges such as teacher shortages, classroom overcrowding, and educational inequality. A call for proposals has been issued, inviting Israeli tech firms and organizations to apply. It builds on the Ministry’s existing digital transformation program, which has included training for over 110,000 teachers and the rollout of smart learning tools to students across the country. The sandbox is positioned as a central part of this broader strategy.
