Black Box or White Box? The Collaborative Governance Process in Cross-Sector Collaborations

The rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is fueled by a growing wave of cross-sector collaborations spanning industries, governments, universities, and applied research institutes transnationally. These diverse actors work together to design, develop, and commercialize AI systems, yet the governance collaborative process remains complex and largely unexplored. This paper investigates how such cross-sector collaborations navigate collaborative and deliberative processes, shedding light on AI’s influence on these dynamics. Drawing on a relational and configurational comparative analysis of key AI hubs in the state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, we theorize the collaborative mechanisms shaping the governance process in these partnerships. Our findings offer critical insights into the governance of AI-driven collaborations, with broader implications for organizations operating at the intersection of technology, policy, and economic development.