Supporting small businesses to use AI for international trade
Artificial intelligence (AI) is profoundly reshaping global trade, offering small businesses powerful new ways to optimize supply chains, reduce costs and overcome longstanding trade barriers.
AI-driven tools now provide real-time analytics, track shipments, anticipate disruptions and enhance compliance capabilities to meet international trade regulations. This transformation is especially important for smaller businesses, as it can help them to navigate complex and constantly changing market dynamics.
And this is where you can step in!
This year's Small Business Champions Competition is seeking projects that not only harness AI to streamline supply chains and reduce transaction costs but also empower small businesses to compete more effectively on the global stage.
Your proposal should build upon proven models and emerging AI technologies to ensure that small businesses worldwide can fully benefit from this digital revolution in trade.
Become a Small Business Champion!
Launched for the first time in 2021, the World Trade Organization’s Informal Working Group of Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, together with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the International Trade Centre (ITC), and this year in partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), are calling for innovative solutions and initiatives that help small businesses leverage AI for international trade.
CALL FOR PROPOSAL
Apply by 16 March 2026: What should the proposal entail?
- AI-powered solutions that facilitate international trade for small businesses
- Training programmes, workshops, or campaigns that teach small businesses how to use AI to enhance their capability to trade internationally.
- Other proposals with a clear link to small businesses, international trade and artificial intelligence.
To see examples from past competition winners, visit the MSME Group Small Business Champions website.
Award details
The main award for the winning proposal will be an invitation from ITU to participate in the AI for Good Global Summit on 8 July 2026. The winner will join a fireside chat with competition organizers to discuss the use of AI to support international trade.
This also includes a Speaker Summit pass, providing the opportunity to attend all sessions, network with global AI and trade experts, and showcase the winning initiative on an international stage.
Training and mentoring opportunities will be discussed with each winner according to their needs, while winning submissions will be promoted by the ICC, ITC, ITU and the WTO MSME Group through their communication channels.
How to submit proposals
Proposals are open to small businesses, enterprises, industry associations, chambers of commerce and non-governmental organizations and should be submitted by 16 March 2026 via this online form:
Small Business Champions 2026 - Intellistack
For all details on the competition and how to submit the proposal, visit:
English: small_businesses_champions_call_for_proposals_2026_e.pdf
French: small_businesses_champions_call_for_proposals_2026_f.pdf
Spanish: small_businesses_champions_call_for_proposals_2026_s.pdf