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AusGrant
Federal Closing soon GRANTS-GOV-363315

AI Partnership & Exchange for Tech Leaders (APEX)

U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia (DOS) · Competitive grant · Science & Technology

At a glance

AI Partnership & Exchange for Tech Leaders (APEX) is a federal competitive grant from U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia for the science & technology sector. Funding is $150K–$250K. Eligible applicants: Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification). - Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations - Public and private edu. The application deadline is September 8, 2026. Apply via the official listing at www.grants.gov.

Amount
$150K–$250K
Deadline
Sep 8, 2026
Type
Competitive
Status
Closing soon

About this program

Program PurposeThe U.S. Embassy Riyadh Public Diplomacy Section is accepting applications for a cooperative agreement to run the AI Partnership & Exchange for Tech Leaders. The goal of this program is to connect rising Saudi Artificial Intelligence (AI) leaders with American experts in business, tech, and academia. This initiative helps participants build professional networks, study U.S. technology standards, and create lasting partnerships between American and Saudi institutions. Target Audience and ParticipantsThe program should be designed for Saudi nationals aged 20 to 30. Participants must be undergraduate, graduate, or post-doctoral students, or recent graduates who are studying or working in AI-related fields (such as data science, robotics, or machine learning). They must also speak fluent English and show strong leadership potential. Provide three complete budget scenarios for 12 participants, 16 participants (primary), and 20 participants.Applicants must provide budget scenarios for three participant cohort sizes:·      12 participants·      16 participants (primary scenario)·      20 participantsEach budget scenario should maintain program quality while demonstrating cost-effectiveness at different scales. Program ComponentsIn addition to the planning and preparation with the Embassy and partner organizations, the selected partner will plan and run three mandatory participant-focused phases: ·      Phase 1: Preparation (Virtual and In-Person) around April 1, 2027: The partner will create an online application portal and launch a recruiting campaign. They will host a virtual hackathon to help short-listed candidates design an AI project idea. Top project ideas will determine who wins a spot on the exchange trip. The partner will also train the group in leadership, project management, and cross-cultural communication before they travel.  ·      Phase 2: U.S. Exchange (Two Weeks) in July 2027: The partner will lead a two-week summer trip to two or three U.S. cities. The trip will include visits to American tech hubs and universities, networking events, workshops at a major AI summit, and cultural activities. The partner will also match each participant with a professional mentor for three months of bi-weekly virtual career coaching after the exchange program component.  Phase 3: Follow-On Summit (Saudi Arabia) on/around January 2028: Within three to six months after the trip, the partner will organize a showcase event in Saudi Arabia. Participants will present their follow-on capstone AI projects to local tech communities, government leaders, and investors. This could be adjacent to major Saudi AI summits or a USG-related event. 

Who can apply

Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification). - Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations - Public and private educational institutions - Public International Organizations and Governmental institutions

How to apply

Apply through Grants.gov using funding opportunity number DOS-SAU-2602. Register your organization (SAM.gov + Grants.gov) before the deadline, then submit the application package listed in the official notice.

Apply at official source