AI & Cross-Border Trade for SMEs:
How Artificial Intelligence Can Drive International Growth

For many European SMEs, achieving cross-border competitiveness remains a structural challenge. Limited resources, fragmented market information, and the complexity of export procedures often prevent small businesses from scaling internationally. At the same time, many SMEs are still catching up in the use of artificial intelligence, which can serve as a key enabler in overcoming these barriers. By applying AI to areas such as market analysis, customer targeting, and logistics planning, SMEs can gain the insights and efficiency needed to compete globally. This session, organised under the SME Connect Working Group on Artificial Intelligence, Data Economy and Cybersecurity, will  focus on how AI can support SMEs in translating innovation into real trade opportunities. Featuring Manatex, a European AI-driven export platform, the discussion will examine how digital tools and AI-powered approaches can make international expansion more accessible, data-informed, and sustainable for small and medium-sized enterprises across Europe.