Governance
From reactive systems to anticipatory legal duties across climate, sustainability, and AI.
FIS 3 · Starting Grant · 2026—2031
G·AI·AGoverning AI for Innovation and Energy Justice
A five-year research project making law fit for the AI revolution in energy systems by connecting governance, compliance, innovation, and energy justice.
Read the thesis
€1.18M · 60 months · PI Dr. Esmeralda Colombo, Esq.
(a) Thesis
Making law fit for the AI revolution in energy systems
After more than three decades of climate policy, energy systems still produce over three-quarters of global greenhouse-gas emissions. Europe has abundant, increasingly cost-competitive renewable energy, yet deployment remains slow. Regulatory inertia, fragmented digitalisation, and misaligned market incentives keep clean innovation apart from sustainability reform.
G-AI-A asks how advanced technologies can support a transition that is both effective and just. It tests the hypothesis that AI, when embedded in suitable legal frameworks, can connect innovation and sustainability. This energy-first approach brings AI into clean-innovation tools and energy-justice frameworks across international, EU, and national law.
The project examines how AI is transforming fragile socio-ecological systems through three perspectives: governance, compliance, and innovation. It combines energy law, AI law, economics, ethics, and policy theory to develop the first Risk–Reward–Resilience framework for AI in energy systems, guided by digital rights, justice indicators, and regulatory standards for the twin transition.
G-AI-A ultimately seeks a genuinely global framework for greener and fairer AI-enabled energy systems. Its impact strategy also develops an AI cleantech partnership model linked to a deeptech startup incubator, helping Milan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem turn clean-energy research into scalable solutions.
The research problem
International
European Union
National
Compliance
Ethical-legal safeguards that connect digital rights, justice indicators, and regulatory standards.
Innovation
Policy conditions that help clean technologies snowball while preserving legitimacy and fairness.
(b) Evidence ledger
6
Research streams
3
Use cases · FR · NO · IT
€1.18M
FIS 3 Starting Grant
5
Years · 60 months
(c) Six work packages
From legal foundations to global validation
WP1 · International law
Defines an energy-first approach and clarifies legal duties for AI in climate- and sustainability-aligned energy systems.
WP2 · EU law and ethics
Connects EU AI law and ethics through an integrated ethical-legal impact-assessment prototype.
WP3 · Innovation ecosystems
Studies how law and green industrial policy can support forecasting, load management, and energy sharing in France, Norway, and Italy.
WP4 · Narrative policy
Develops a coherent policy narrative for inclusive AI innovation and energy citizenship.
WP5 · RRR framework
Turns prior findings into a Risk–Reward–Resilience policy model tested with experts and Milan startups.
WP6 · Synthesis and validation
Integrates and tests the research hypothesis and develops the Global AI Charter.
(d) Research methodology
One interdisciplinary method, six complementary lenses
Across five years, WP6 continuously integrates legal, ethical, economic, and policy research through iterative, purpose-led project management and stakeholder co-creation.
- WP1Legal dogmatics
- WP2Law and ethics
- WP3Law and innovation studies
- WP4Narrative policy
- WP5Policy studies and econometrics
- WP6Lean synthesis and co-creation
(e) Dissemination and impact
Open research designed to travel
G-AI-A connects scholarship with policy, industry, and public debate so that its findings can inform both knowledge and practical reform.
Open-access peer-reviewed articles, complemented by an edited volume.
Stakeholder consultations and validation workshops across the project.
White papers and research charters with concise, actionable recommendations.
An AI Literacy Hub supporting international dialogue and durable policy and startup uptake.
(f) Intended outputs
- 01Risk–Reward–Resilience frameworkA transferable legislative blueprint for AI in energy.
- 02Global AI CharterPrinciples for legal research on responsible AI in energy systems.
- 03Three cross-country use casesForecasting, load management, and energy sharing in France, Norway, and Italy.
- 04AI Literacy HubA participatory space connecting research, policy, and energy citizens.
(g) Kick-off conference
Law, Responsibility, and Human Agency
8 October 2026 · 13:30–16:00
Room G.005, Cripta Aula Magna · Largo A. Gemelli 1, Milan
Register →Scientific Advisory Board
An epistemic community spanning international law, geopolitics, ethics, innovation, entrepreneurship, energy systems, and policy narratives.
Anthea Roberts · Piret Tõnurist · Mathias Risse · Shannon Vallor · Enrico Zio · Kjersti Fløttum · Giuseppe Riva · Gabriele Della Morte
(h) Press kit
Resources for media and partners
Download the G-AI-A identity and use the verified project facts below. For interviews or further material, contact the Principal Investigator.
Logo downloads
SVG masterScalable for web and printPNG · 1024 pxHigh-resolution squareX · 400 pxProfile-ready imageLinkedIn · 300 pxPage logo image
Project facts
- G-AI-A: Governing AI for Innovation and Energy Justice
- FIS 3 Starting Grant · 2026—2031 · €1.18M
- PI Dr. Esmeralda Colombo, Esq.
- Project FIS-2024-07645 · CUP J53C25002380001
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