FY 2026 Strengthening Talent, Research, Innovation and Vital Engagement (STRIVE) Program

The STRIVE Program's goal is to strengthen U.S. global leadership by supporting U.S. higher education institutions to equip the next generation of American leaders with the vital knowledge, skills, and relationships needed to advance U.S. commercial and security interests. ECA previously engaged U.S. higher education institutions in similar activities through the IDEAS Program. The STRIVE Program increases the U.S. institutions and students engaging overseas while aligning activities to better support U.S. prosperity and security.

The STRIVE Program provides competitively selected subawards and resources to U.S. colleges and universities to establish international partnerships and programming that prepare U.S. undergraduate and graduate students for careers in industries critical to U.S. prosperity and security. The STRIVE Program has three main objectives:

· Increase the number of U.S. higher education institutions developing international partnerships to maintain U.S. global leadership and influence in higher education, counter malign influence of other actors in foreign higher education systems, and align global academic innovation with U.S. priorities.

· Increase the number of U.S. undergraduate and graduate students studying, interning, apprenticing, and/or researching abroad on programs that prepare them to fulfill domestic labor needs, ensuring a skilled U.S. workforce that can effectively advance U.S. commercial and security interests.

· Increase the strategic locations where U.S. undergraduate and graduate students study, intern, apprentice, and/or research abroad. Growing foreign public's interactions with U.S. students, culture, and business practices helps lay the foundation for strengthened diplomatic, security, economic, and trade ties.

Pending availability of funds, the recipient will work in close consultation with ECA to implement two main components to achieve the STRIVE Program goal and objectives under this award:

1. Small Grants Competition and Oversight: The award recipient will implement at least one open, merit-based competition that will result in at least 25 subawards to accredited U.S. colleges and universities to develop international academic programs that equip U.S. students to meet domestic labor needs in industries critical to U.S. commercial and security interests. The developed programs can include credit-bearing study, internship, apprenticeship, and/or research abroad activities and be open to U.S. undergraduate and/or graduate students. The award recipient should look for efficiencies to maximize the amount of funding dedicated to subawards. The award recipient will monitor and support subaward recipients as they implement project activities and build institutional capacity to develop international programs aligned with U.S. economic and security needs.

2. Higher Education Partnerships Initiative: The award recipient will develop and implement a cohesive series of engagements to foster partnerships between U.S. and global higher education institutions that will lead to study, internship, apprenticeship, and/or research exchanges in one or more fields critical to U.S. commercial and security interests. The field(s) of focus will be determined in consultation with ECA but could include artificial intelligence / supercomputing, critical minerals, emerging technologies and innovations, and energy, among others. This initiative should include virtual and/or in-person seminars open to all U.S. and foreign higher education institutions, as well as an in-person forum held in conjunction with a major industry conference that will bring together approximately 40 total U.S. and foreign higher education leaders to explore partnership opportunities.

Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information.