FY 2026 TechLeaders: Critical Emerging Technologies Exchange

Closed Posted

Opportunity number
DFOP0018277
Agency
Applications due
Award size
$1,500,000

Opportunity facts

Funding instrument
Cooperative Agreement
Category
  • Other
Eligible applicants
  • 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
  • Higher Education Inst. (Private)
  • Higher Education Inst. (Public)
Points of contact
Full announcement

Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .

About this opportunity

Written by GovTribe AI ·

The Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is seeking a cooperative agreement recipient to design and implement the FY 2026 TechLeaders: Critical Emerging Technologies Exchange program, which will facilitate international professional development and mentorship in five critical technology sectors: Artificial Intelligence, Space Technology, Biotechnology/Health Technology, Supply Chain/Cold Chain Technology, and Agricultural Technology. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, private higher education institutions, or public higher education institutions with demonstrated capacity to recruit and select approximately 60 foreign participants aged 25-40 from six global regions, manage comprehensive program logistics, and implement overseas programming including reciprocal exchanges and an accelerator program. Key qualifications require applicants to demonstrate at least four years of experience conducting international exchange programs, maintain active registrations in SAM.gov and MyGrants, and comply with J-1 visa Exchange Visitor Program regulations. The program will be evaluated based on applicants' organizational capacity, recruitment and selection methodologies, proposed mentorship arrangements with U.S.-based companies, professional development training design, and commitment to the MODE (Monitoring Data for ECA) Framework performance evaluation standards. The application deadline is July 6, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, with an anticipated award date in July 2026.

The total award value is $1,500,000 for the overall FY 2026 TechLeaders program with a 24-30 month performance period. The program encompasses five weeks of intensive in-country placement for the initial cohort of participants, followed by a second cohort, with subsequent reciprocal exchange projects and a Critical Emerging Technologies Accelerator program to be implemented in participants' home countries. Performance locations include the United States for participant orientations, professional placements with U.S. companies and mentors, housing, and program administration, as well as international locations across Sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Eurasia, Middle East and North Africa, South and Central Asia, and the Western Hemisphere for overseas recruitment, reciprocal exchanges, and accelerator programming.

Synopsis

2 versions

Update #2 · Latest ·

The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Global Leaders Division, of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) invites proposal submissions for the FY 2026 TechLeaders: Critical Emerging Technologies Program. TechLeaders will strengthen America's technological edge and industry dominance by promoting U.S. leadership in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Space Technology, Biotechnology/Health Technology, Supply Chain/Cold Chain Technology, and Agricultural Technology (AgriTech). This initiative engages approximately 60 foreign participants, ages 25-40, from Europe and Eurasia, East Asia and the Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, South and Central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Western Hemisphere through a five-week intensive placement in the United States. Participants will collaborate with U.S.-based mentors and companies to develop actionable solutions in critical technology sectors, showcasing American expertise and innovation. The program will also feature overseas components including reciprocal exchanges and an accelerator following the second U.S.-based cohort to expand U.S. influence, inspire future STEM professionals, and foster collaboration with American businesses. TechLeaders supports U.S. national security and foreign policy objectives by exporting American expertise and technological innovations abroad, promoting U.S.-preferred technology standards globally, bolstering economic ties, and countering the proliferation of malign competitors' technology in the global market.


Organizations applying for this federal award must demonstrate the capacity to recruit, select, and place participants, manage all program logistics, and implement overseas programming, which includes annual reciprocal exchanges and a Critical Emerging Technologies Accelerator program after the second cohort of participants. The recipient will be awarded $ 1,500,000 for the overall FY 2026 TechLeaders: Critical Emerging Technologies Program, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used efficiently to advance U.S. national interests and global leadership in critical technology sectors.


Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information.

Update #1 ·

The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Global Leaders Division, of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) invites proposal submissions for the FY 2026 TechLeaders: Critical Emerging Technologies Program. TechLeaders will strengthen America's technological edge and industry dominance by promoting U.S. leadership in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Space Technology, Biotechnology/Health Technology, Supply Chain/Cold Chain Technology, and Agricultural Technology (AgriTech). This initiative engages approximately 60 foreign participants, ages 25-40, from Europe and Eurasia, East Asia and the Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, South and Central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Western Hemisphere through a five-week intensive placement in the United States. Participants will collaborate with U.S.-based mentors and companies to develop actionable solutions in critical technology sectors, showcasing American expertise and innovation. The program will also feature overseas components including reciprocal exchanges and an accelerator following the second U.S.-based cohort to expand U.S. influence, inspire future STEM professionals, and foster collaboration with American businesses. TechLeaders supports U.S. national security and foreign policy objectives by exporting American expertise and technological innovations abroad, promoting U.S.-preferred technology standards globally, bolstering economic ties, and countering the proliferation of malign competitors' technology in the global market. Organizations applying for this federal award must demonstrate the capacity to recruit, select, and place participants, manage all program logistics, and implement overseas programming, which includes annual reciprocal exchanges and a Critical Emerging Technologies Accelerator program after the second cohort of participants. The recipient will be awarded $ 1,500,000 for the overall FY 2026 TechLeaders: Critical Emerging Technologies Program, ensuring that taxpayer dollars

Files

File Type Posted
performance_monitoring_plan_mode_2.3_02.03.2025.pdf PDF
performance_monitoring_plan_mode_2.3_02.03.2025-4.docx DOCX document
FY26 TechLeaders NOFO.pdf PDF

On GovTribe

Work this opportunity

  • Track it in your pipeline
  • Find teaming partners
  • Similar grant opportunities
  • Ask GovTribe AI about this opportunity
Try for free Login