Judges will assess your application based on the weighting given to each assessment area. There are three assessment areas that are weighted and scored.
Section weighting
| Assessment area | Weighting |
|---|
| 1: Your business story and national benefit | 40% |
| 2: National category | 20% |
| 3: Business and export growth strategy | 40% |
Assessment area 1: Your business story and national benefit
Criterion 1: Demonstrated advantages in international markets due to clear value proposition and business innovation/s.
Demonstrate this by telling a compelling story about what makes the business unique, inspiring, innovative and competitive.
You must demonstrate this through examples such as:
- The motivation or idea behind your business.
- What makes your brand, products or services, intellectual property and operations unique, innovative and competitive.
Criterion 2: Demonstrated export success
Demonstrate this by providing a clear example of the businesses export success, and any impacts, benefits or diversification as a result of the international business outcome.
Include details of the outcome or impact through examples such as:
- what was the impact on your bottom line?
- where there any key drivers to this success, e.g. innovation, diversification, access to new markets, new marketing campaigns etc?
- did it allow you to hire more staff?
- did it increase your export revenue?
- did it allow you to expand into new markets?
- did you find new customers?
Criterion 3: Demonstrated value and benefit to Australia
Demonstrate this by detailing direct and indirect linkages to the creation of economic or social benefits, and the businesses contribution to the economic prosperity of Australia through efforts such as:
- trade diversification
- sustainability or transformative net-zero activities
- First Nations outcomes
- manufacturing capability
- economic and national security
- economic return and reinvestment, including foreign investment to support export trade
- digital technology
- job creation and skills development within Australia
- cultural promotion
Assessment area 2: National category
Criterion: Demonstrated specialised knowledge of sector or business type.
Demonstrate this by providing specific examples that address sector or business specific related challenges, risks or barriers, innovations or competitive edge, product development and delivery of goods and services.
Assessment area 3: Business and export growth strategy
Criterion 1: Demonstrated understanding of international business risks and risk mitigation strategies
Demonstrate this by outlining international business risks and the sound strategies and controls in place to mitigate those risks.
Criterion 2: Demonstrated commitment to export growth and diversification
Demonstrate this by providing examples on export growth and diversification over a three-year period through efforts such as:
- diversification in new or existing markets
- diversification in products or services
- sufficient resourcing and investment in staff development
- export development and commercialisation
- increases in sales and foreign revenue
- supporting international marketing strategies
Previous winners
A business that is applying in the same category they have previously won, within a 2-year period, will need to demonstrate against each assessment criterion significant advances across one or more of the below requirements:
- Export revenue growth (10%+ year-on-year).
- Market diversification (2+ new international markets).
- Innovation (new products/services/technology).
- Sustainability and net-zero impact improvements.
- Increased Australian workforce or economic contribution
Responses in the application should be tailored to demonstrate these requirements.
For further information about the assessment criteria, scoring guide and judging process, read the 2026 Program Guidelines.