How AI-ready is your SME? Now you can find out.
InterTradeIreland has launched a major new independent research programme examining how small and medium-sized businesses across the island are approaching artificial intelligence, and what is needed to help more businesses benefit from it.
This survey will help build the first comprehensive, all-island evidence base on SME AI adoption, exploring where businesses are seeing genuine value from AI, what is holding others back, and what practical support would make a real difference. It covers both jurisdictions and is designed to capture the experience of businesses of up to 250 employees across a range of sectors.
Taking part takes approximately 10 minutes and every participating SME will receive a personalised AI readiness score, giving their business a clearer sense of where it stands on the AI adoption journey, where the gaps are, and where the opportunities may be greatest. SMEs across Ireland and Northern Ireland are encouraged to have their say.
AI is increasingly linked to productivity, competitiveness and long-term business resilience. While larger organisations are moving quickly, many SMEs face real barriers including cost, skills, time, data concerns and uncertainty about where AI genuinely adds value. The research aims to build an honest picture of where businesses actually are, rather than where the technology conversation suggests they should be.
SMEs are at the centre of everything we do, and through our work across the island we know that many businesses are curious about AI but unsure where to start, whether or how it is relevant to them. This research is about improving understanding in practical terms.
We want to identify the real barriers facing SMEs and use that evidence to shape support that is accessible, relevant and genuinely useful.
Improving SME productivity and competitiveness is a core ambition of our new corporate strategy, and this research will help us understand where InterTradeIreland can make the most meaningful difference."
Martin Robinson, Director of Strategy and Research, InterTradeIreland
The research is being conducted independently by the Sans Souci consortium, in partnership with Queen's University Belfast and Ulster University. It includes a large-scale survey of 1,200 SMEs across both jurisdictions, alongside in-depth stakeholder interviews and focus groups. Findings will be published later this year and will inform evidence-based recommendations for InterTradeIreland and its government and enterprise partners.
Businesses wishing to take part can complete the survey here. All responses are confidential and reported in aggregated form only.
