Ravan Mansurov is a MA student at the Faculty of Law, Vilnius University, Lithuania.
During the Chambers of Commerce – 4th International Conference at the Junior Researchers Session he will describet: “Chambers as Co-Regulatory Intermediaries for FinTech SMEs. Translating the EU AI Act and GDPR into Practical Compliance“.
Research problem
FinTech SMEs face overlapping obligations under the AI Act and the GDPR, yet lack the internal capacity to translate abstract requirements into day-to-day routines. Chambers of commerce reach large SME populations and could act as intermediaries, but their effectiveness varies and is insufficiently compared across institutional settings.
Current understanding
Prior work documents SME compliance barriers and notes that associations often communicate rules more accessibly than authorities. What remains under-explored is how differing chamber models and capacities shape concrete support tools (checklists, trainings, self-assessment) for FinTech SMEs implementing AI/GDPR, and which institutional features drive success.
Research question
Under what institutional conditions do chambers of commerce translate AI Act/GDPR obligations into practical compliance routines for FinTech SMEs?
Research design
Comparative institutional analysis of Germany, Poland and Lithuania, grounded in doctrinal/policy mapping of AI/GDPR and a structured Intermediation Capacity Index (governance/mandate, expertise/staff, tools, partnerships, funding; 0–2 each). Evidence: chamber-led artefacts since2023 (guides, templates, trainings, helpdesks, self-assessment materials) in three functional roles: translation, capability building, assurance brokering.
Findings
Germany’s public-law IHKs score high on mandate and funding, sustaining in-house expertise and comprehensive toolkits, including AI Act briefings, GDPR-AI checklists and free webinars. Poland’s chambers provide project-based, uneven support via external experts and EDIH partnerships. Lithuania’s chambers play a limited role, with SMEs relying mainly on governmental or EU resources. The Index correlates with depth and continuity of SME-facing tools and training across cases.
Implications
Policy: formal recognition and targeted funding for chamber-led SME compliance programmes, integration with sandboxes and train-the-trainer schemes. Practice: invest in small compliance helpdesks, publish modular toolkits and curate authority checklists; partner with EDIHs and regulators. Research: apply and refine the Index across sectors to test generalisability.
