Technical

Proof-of-Concept (PoC)

Short-term project validating technical and commercial feasibility.

How the laws define this

Both the AI Business Programme (Business Finland) and the Bogotá TransMilenio AI Facial Recognition Pilot define a proof-of-concept as a short-term, time-limited effort intended to demonstrate feasibility, technical viability, or practical effectiveness before undertaking larger product development or scaling. They diverge primarily regarding commercial scope and financial context. The AI Business Programme (Business Finland) explicitly includes validating commercial potential alongside technical viability and positions the project as a primary funding instrument. In contrast, the Bogotá TransMilenio AI Facial Recognition Pilot focuses strictly on a limited operational deployment to assess technology performance in situ, illustrating this with a 30-day test using Corsight AI with 20 cameras to evaluate facial recognition effectiveness without referencing commercial goals or funding functions. Thus, the former treats a proof-of-concept as a financial mechanism evaluating both market and technical potential, whereas the latter treats it as a practical field trial testing live performance.

Synthesised from the 2 statutory definitions below. Each one is quoted in full, with its source.

How jurisdictions differ

What is distinctive in each definition, binding law in force first.

Jurisdiction	Instrument	Status	What is distinctive
Finland	AI Business Programme (Business Finland)	Repealed	This definition positions the PoC as a primary funding instrument within the AI Business Programme, emphasizing its role in accelerating commercialisation and internationalisation of Finnish AI.
Colombia	Bogotá TransMilenio AI Facial Recognition Pilot	Superseded	This definition highlights a specific 30-day deployment with 20 cameras to evaluate facial recognition performance in a real-world transit setting, monitored by the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce.

What it triggers

In the Finland AI Business Programme, a PoC served as a primary funding instrument.source
In the Colombia Bogotá TransMilenio AI Facial Recognition Pilot, a PoC was monitored by the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce.source

Definitions (2)

A time-limited project intended to validate the technical viability and commercial potential of an AI solution prior to larger product development or scaling; a primary funding instrument in the programme.

AI Business Programme (Business Finland)Definition 1 of 2

A short-term, limited deployment intended to demonstrate feasibility and assess the practical effectiveness of a technology or method; in this pilot a 30-day POC using Corsight AI with 20 cameras was used to evaluate facial recognition performance in situ.

Bogotá TransMilenio AI Facial Recognition PilotDefinition 2 of 2

Not to be confused with

Pilots

Pilots are time-limited evaluations of AI systems, while PoC specifically validates technical viability and commercial potential prior to larger development.

AI Pilots

AI Pilots are controlled, time-bound projects to test AI systems, whereas PoC focuses on demonstrating feasibility for funding or scaling decisions.

Questions and answers

What was the role of PoC in the Finland AI Business Programme?

The PoC was a time-limited project to validate technical viability and commercial potential of AI solutions. It acted as a primary funding instrument in the programme launched in 2017 and expanded in 2018.

How was PoC implemented in the Bogotá TransMilenio pilot?

It involved a 30-day deployment using Corsight AI with 20 cameras to evaluate facial recognition performance in transit stations. The pilot was monitored by the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce.

How does PoC differ from pilots in AI contexts?

PoC validates technical and commercial feasibility before scaling, often as a funding step, while pilots are broader time-limited evaluations of AI systems.