AI Export Bootcamp to help Atlantic Canadian SMEs reach global markets faster

Canadian companies are diversifying into new markets, and those that can spot opportunities early and respond quickly have the advantage. For more and more businesses, artificial intelligence is becoming an important tool to sharpen market intelligence, strengthen customer engagement, and set the stage for export growth.

Applications are now open for the AI for Export Bootcamp, a new six-week program designed to help Atlantic Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) better integrate artificial intelligence into their businesses. Managed by Digital Nova Scotia in partnership with Innovation PEI, techNL, and Opportunities New Brunswick, this new program will support up to 20 Atlantic Canadian firms who want to accelerate their global growth through AI adoption. Over the course of six interactive training sessions, participants will gain hands-on experience using AI tools to support key export activities, including:

● Researching and assessing international markets; ● Identifying and qualifying potential buyers; ● Creating export-ready sales and marketing content; ● Strengthening international outreach and business development.

“Improving productivity is essential if Atlantic Canadian companies want to compete globally,” said Owen Sagness, CEO of Digital Nova Scotia. “This bootcamp will help level the playing field by giving SMEs practical AI tools they can use to work more efficiently, shorten sales cycles, and pursue new international opportunities with greater confidence.”

The program will be delivered in collaboration with St. Francis Xavier University, which will provide artificial intelligence foundational training and advanced prompt engineering. Participants who complete the program will also receive a recognized microcredential in AI for export development, helping them build lasting in-house capacity to apply AI across their operations.

The AI for Export Bootcamp is supported through the Atlantic Trade and Investment Growth Agreement (ATIGA), an initiative of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and all four Atlantic Provinces that helps foster innovation, export growth, and the development of global partnerships. Atlantic Canadian SMEs are encouraged to apply now. Applications close on April 7, 2026, with the bootcamp set to begin the week of April 27, 2026. More information and application details: https://digitalnovascotia.com/programs/ai-for-export/