Why the ITU Digital World Awards?

As the UN specialized agency for ICTs, with 193 Member States, over 700 private sector entities and 150 years of sector expertise, ITU understands the critical role of ICT solutions in accelerating social and economic development across emerging and developed markets alike. ICT-based applications, solutions and initiatives are uniquely powerful and effective in improving lives all around the world.
The Awards Programme at ITU Digital World celebrates this innovation and creativity by aiming to:

Recognize

the most promising and effective initiatives using ICTs innovatively for social good – whether created by entrepreneurs, SMEs or large-scale industry players

Highlight

best practices and the cross-fertilization of ideas
for innovative socio-economic development

Provide

a platform to network, mobilize investment and
create new business opportunities for ICT solutions with social impact

The Awards and who can enter

The ITU Digital World Awards are open to all exhibitors and sponsors present at ITU Digital World, whether within a National or Thematic pavilion, as an independent stand or with an SME workstation. The Awards are presented in the following categories:

Global
SME Awards

for the most promising solutions from SMEs
making innovative use of ICTs for social impact.

Global
Industry Awards

for the most promising innovative solutions from
large companies in a range of categories.

Government
Award

for the National Pavilion at ITU Digital World with three or more of the most promising innovative SMEs present at the event who have applied for the Global SME Awards

Host Country
SME Awards

for the best and most innovative SME or solution from ITU Digital World’s host country

Recognition of
Excellence
Certificate

for the best innovative exhibitor within each National Pavilion at ITU Digital World

Why enter the Awards?

Benefit from international visibility before, during and after the event

Engage with governments, policy-makers and regulators at the highest level

Take home the exclusive ITU Digital World Award Winner trophy and certificate

Win UN recognition as an innovative ICT4D solutions provider

Network with potential partners, customers and leads from public and private sectors, emerging and developed markets

Take part in the SME Programme of capacity building and skills workshops, business matchmaking and networking events

How to apply

You can enter the Global SME Awards and Host Country SME Award by completing the application form available here. For the Government Award, National Pavilions should encourage SMEs within the pavilion to apply using this form; all countries with a minimum of 3 SMEs applying here will be eligible for this Award.

You can enter the Global Industry Awards by completing one or more of the application forms below.

The deadline for applications is 19 July 2019. Early applications are encouraged, as jury evaluation is an ongoing process and earlier applications are more likely to receive feedback.

Apply for SME Awards

Apply for Industry Awards
(Digital Inclusion & Principles)

Apply for Industry Awards
(Meaningful Connectivity Solutions)

Apply for Industry Awards
(Sustainable Impact)

Read our full Terms & Conditions. Any queries? Contact us directly.

ITU Telecom World Awards 2019 – Winners and Finalists

Congratulations to all the finalists and winners of the ITU Telecom World Awards 2019!

2019 Winners and finalists

Our 2019 Global SME Awards Jury

Our 2019 Global Industry Awards Jury

Participating in ITU is really great leverage for us to introduce our technology to a global market.

Soon Yoonju, Ripplebuds

As an entrepreneur you often go down quite a lonely journey, so it’s really wonderful to be recognised for the work we are doing. It’s been a really great week, being able to showcase our ICT solution on an international stage has been very valuable.

Miguel da Costa, Uthini

This week has been a whirlwind, literally buyers from all the world, decision-makers in ICT in a number of verticals. It’s been not only overwhelming, but very, very rewarding

Sabelo Sibanda, Co-founder, Tuse Applications

The week has been fantastic, we have been able to interact with different stakeholders and potential partners, as well as other SMEs within the exhibition.

Tshepho Thlaku, CEO, Pulego

It is a great honour for me, as small company with lots of potential. I saw a lot of companies like us here, we would like to come here every year if we have the chance, all the ICT system is here to cooperate with, and there are many ceremonies and festivals to have fun together, it is very good

Sujeong Park, Manager, iKoob

It was really great chance to be here and introduce some services and content to other countries. We met many partners here from Africa and we`d like to come again to expand our business again.

Helen Lee, Director, Marvus

This event is eye-opening to all of us. Our SMEs and all our colleagues will take the good ideas here and see how they can implement them at home, see what is happening elsewhere in the continent and beyond.

Prof. Américo F. Muchanga, Director General, INCM, Mozambique

I am proud to be here to see the exciting innovations not only in the telecoms sector but also in other areas like fintech, ecommerce and 5G - the new era of technology here inspires me to do more and want to achieve more for society.

Iwan Kurniawan, CEO & Co-founder, Modalku, Global SME Excellence Award Winner, Indonesia

The network and connections you can build at an event like this are invaluable, from a business perspective, from an investor perspective, from a networking perspective. There is so much synergy that we can definitely strengthen partnerships.

Matthias Brodner, Simplus Innovation, Global SME Award Best Business Model Winner, South Africa

Being at the ITU conference has been extremely mind blowing for me, I have learnt so much in terms of SME programmes, technology and awareness of what other countries are doing, it has been a really great platform.

Temitope Awosika, MEDSAF, Global SME Award Greatest Social Impact Winner, Nigeria

A small company like us doesn’t usually have the opportunity to come to this event, but by participating we can meet the right people, announce and advertise our technologies, which is very helpful for the growth of our business.

Hiroshi Tominaga, General Manager, Japan Battery Regeneration, Inc.

Our Jury

A distinguished jury of experts will select a shortlist of Global SME Awards applicants to pitch their solutions onsite at ITU Telecom World. Winners in each category other than the Global SME Excellence Award will be selected from this shortlist and announced on the final day of the event. The winner of the Global SME Excellence Award will be chosen following live head-to-head pitches during the high-profile Awards Ceremony.

A second jury with experts in each vertical sector will select the winners of the Global Industry Awards based on social impact, innovative use of ICTs, business model, scalability & replicability, and environmental sustainability.

Award winners' success stories

Semse Apps

Vokacom

Stephen Ibaraki, Chairman, Managing General Partner REDDS Capital

Yellowbeast

Ologa

dbTrack

Pulego

Tuse Applications

Modalku, Indonesia

Ulala Lab

Japan Battery Regeneration

WASPAG, Ghana

Covenant University, Nigeria

Academic Bridge

Gnúbila

BRCK

Health Q2

JokkoSante

Anthemis

Intervale Management

Lekha Wireless