FAQ - Nova Scotia Export Achievement Awards 2020

Frequently Asked Questions

The Nova Scotia Export Achievement Awards recognize outstanding contributions businesses make to Nova Scotia’s economy through the export of products and services. Companies from across the province are recognized via five (5) award categories for their role in Nova Scotia’s export success.

1. What are the Nova Scotia Export Achievement Awards (EAA)?
The EAA is an annual awards luncheon, presented by NSBI, in which we recognize companies from across the province that achieve extraordinary results in either domestic or international markets or whose exemplary export practices contribute to Nova Scotia’s ability to compete in a global economy.

In 2020, the EAA will recognize businesses in the following (5) five award categories:

• New Exporter Champion of the Year (Presented to a business that is new to exporting and has made a successful initial entry into a new market outside of Nova Scotia within the past (2) years.)
• Business of Diversity Champion of the Year (Presented to a business of diversity that has made notable success in growing their business through export within the past (2) years.)
• Canadian Market Champion of the Year (Presented to a business that has made notable success by increasing exports to one or more new markets within Canada over the past (2) years.) 
• International Market Champion of the Year (Presented to an exporter who has excelled in international exports (outside of Canada) and made significant contributions to the development of the Nova Scotia economy within the past (2) years.)
• Innovation in Business Champion of the Year (Presented to a business that has demonstrated sustainable growth of export markets through their efforts to adapt their product or service to meet market demand within the past (2) years.)

Two companies will be awarded either Exporter of the Year under $5 million or Exporter of the Year over $5 million in export sales.

2. What is the base selection criteria for each award category?
The five (5) award categories and two (2) Exporter of the Year nominees are evaluated based on their increase in export sales by dollar value, percentage of total sales or number of markets served; innovative methods or tactics used to make sales in international markets; positive impact on the province’s overall economy; and the applicant’s or nominee’s local community.

3. Are all Nova Scotia companies eligible to apply for any of the five award categories?
Yes. Any Nova Scotia-based company that exports a product or service and meets the criteria for any of the award categories is eligible to apply.

4. How can a company apply for an award?
Companies must complete and submit an application form to the award category of their choice. There are five application forms, one for each award category, available for download here.

5. Is there a limit to how many award categories a company may apply?
A company may apply for up to three award categories once they meet the awards criteria.

6. What is the deadline for award category application submissions?
Award category applications must be submitted by 5:00 pm ADT on Friday, March 27, 2020.

7. How do I apply for the Exporter of the Year awards?
Companies do not apply for the Exporter of the Year awards. Companies, whose application scores qualified them for the exporter of the year categories, including the top three finalists for each award category, will be further assessed to determine the Exporter of the Year under $5 million and the Exporter of the Year over $5 million in export sales.

8. What support is available to me to complete my application?
Companies applying for any of the award categories can request guidance from either a NSBI Regional Business Development Advisor or Export Development Executive.

9. What is the award evaluation process?
A committee of adjudicators, made up of export experts, will review and evaluate the applications for each of the five (5) award categories. Scores will be compiled from each adjudicator to select a winner in each award category. The company with the highest score for each award category will be deemed the Champion.

Companies, whose application scores qualified them for the exporter of the year categories, including the top three finalists for each award category, will be the nominees for the two (2) Exporter of the Year awards. These applications will be further assessed to determine the Exporters of the Year. The companies with the highest scores in either the under or over $5 million in export sales will be awarded Exporter of the Year under $5 million and the Exporter of the Year over $5 million in export sales.

10. How do I submit an Application Form?
Application Forms must be submitted to exportawardapplication@nsbi.ca

11. How will winners be notified?
The winners for each of the five (5) award categories and the two Exporter of the Year awards will be announced at the Nova Scotia Export Achievement Awards on June 11, 2020.

12. Will the top three (3) finalists nominated for each award category be notified?
Yes. NSBI will announce publicly the top three (3) finalists nominated for each award category the week of April 8, 2020, in advance of the Nova Scotia Export Achievement Awards.

13. What information will be publicly released if you are a nominee or an EAA winner?
Information collected in connection with the EAA is subject to, and will be treated in accordance with, the Nova Scotia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Applicants must consent to:

• Participate in any public announcement or public ceremony related to the EAA at a mutually agreeable time; and
• The release of information (business name, business contact name, sector, region, and type or types of awards received) to the media and general public.

For more information about the application process, please contact the Regional Business Development Advisor in your region.