Global Digital Economy Lighthouse Program
Identifying, recognizing, and empowering outstanding examples of digital innovation that drive sustainable progress worldwide.
Why This Program Exists
Program Background
The Global Digital Economy Lighthouse Case Program is a joint initiative co-organized by International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the International Trade Centre (ITC), and Global Digital Economy Cities Alliance (DEC40), with Global SDGs and Leadership Development Center (GSLDC) serving as the co-organizer and host agency. The program aims to select and recognize outstanding practices worldwide that leverage digital technology to advance sustainable development, with a focus on identifying people-centered, problem-solving, and innovative achievements that contribute to an inclusive digital future.
Our Goal
- Build a Global Case Repository: Identify and document digital innovations with verifiable value from diverse development contexts, establishing a benchmark for global digital economy innovation practices
- Produce Actionable Public Goods: Develop the Global Digital Economy Lighthouse Case Collection (2026) and related knowledge products, generating standardized and reusable practice templates
- Foster Peer Learning: Promote South-South cooperation and cross-regional exchanges to help countries – especially developing and least developed regions – achieve digital transformation
- Accelerate Localization of the Global Digital Compact: Demonstrate how digital innovations advance global frameworks at the local level, facilitating the standardized replication and scaled implementation of outstanding cases
What Is a 'Lighthouse Case'?
The term 'Lighthouse' carries three meanings:
Guidance
Illuminating a pathway
Validation
Tested and proven
Empowerment
Enabling others to find their own way
Core Characteristics
Lighthouse Case refers to exemplary digital practices implemented by various industry entities in the digital economy sector, including enterprises, industrial parks, universities and research institutions, international organizations, industry associations and alliances, which guide and empower others through measurable, inclusive and replicable impact.
Case Categories
Eligibility Criteria
Minimum Requirements
Evaluation Indicator Framework
| Dimension | Weight | Sub-indicators |
|---|---|---|
| Impact | 50 | Problem-solving capacity (15)Inclusive empowerment (15)Green and low-carbon performance (10)Industrial ecosystem empowerment (10) |
| Scalability | 20 | Validated scalability (10)Cross-scenario replicability (10) |
| Sustainability | 20 | Local context adaptability (10)Local operational autonomy (10) |
| Trustworthiness | 10 | Ethical compliance management (5)Data security safeguards (5) |
The Process & Key Dates
Global Call for Submissions (Round I)
Round I Evaluation and Notification
Launch of Round I Outstanding Cases
International Summit Showcase & Rolling Call Launch
Round II Submission and Evaluation
Final Assessment & Casebook Launch
Global Dissemination & Partnerships Development
Benefits
Global Recognition:
Official certificate jointly issued by ITU, ITC, DEC40, and GSLDC, recognizing your case as a globally endorsed benchmark in digital innovation within the UN ecosystem.
Knowledge Asset:
Case inclusion in the Global Digital Economy Lighthouse Case Collection (2026), publicly accessible on the websites of the four organizing institutions as global public goods.
Premier International Platform:
Invited to present at the Global Digital Economy Conference (Beijing, 2 July 2026) or the AI for Good Global Summit (Geneva, 2nd week of July 2026)
Global Replication Support:
Join the 'Lighthouse Cooperation Network' with priority access to cross-regional technical assistance, partnership matching, and facilitation of pilot-scale funding
Honorable Mention Opportunities:
Eligibility for Honorable Mention recognition in four priority SDG-aligned areas: South-South cooperation, MSME empowerment, climate action, and gender equality
Long-term Branding:
Authorized to use the 'Global Digital Economy Lighthouse Program' logo; participation in year-round global roadshows, media outreach, and joint branding initiatives
Contact Us
Join the Global Digital Economy Lighthouse Program
Seeking the Lighthouses That Illuminate the World, Shaping an Inclusive Digital Future.