Y-AI: Leveraging the U.S. Tech Stack for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific

The U.S. Mission to Indonesia, under the U.S. Department of State, is offering a cooperative agreement opportunity titled “Y-AI: Leveraging the U.S. Tech Stack for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.” This program is part of broader U.S. public diplomacy and exchange initiatives, particularly aligned with the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), which aims to strengthen leadership development and regional cooperation across Southeast Asia. The funding opportunity is administered through the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs and reflects U.S. strategic priorities related to technology governance, digital ecosystems, and regional partnerships as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary. The primary purpose of this grant is to support the design and implementation of a regional workshop scheduled for February 2027 in Southeast Asia. The program will engage up to 80 alumni leaders from YSEALI and equip them with practical knowledge, policy understanding, and advocacy tools related to artificial intelligence and the U.S. technology stack. The initiative emphasizes promoting regulatory approaches aligned with U.S. perspectives while also demonstrating how American technology frameworks can support economic growth, innovation, and individual freedoms within the Indo-Pacific region. Funding will support all aspects of program implementation, including planning, logistics, curriculum development, participant engagement, and evaluation. The workshop may be hosted in any major Southeast Asian city, providing flexibility to applicants in selecting a location that maximizes accessibility and impact. Proposals are expected to demonstrate cost-effectiveness and strong alignment between budget and anticipated outcomes. While the total program funding is not explicitly defined, the award ceiling is set at $250,000, indicating the maximum available support for the selected applicant. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and inclusive, encompassing not-for-profit organizations, think tanks, civil society organizations, public and private educational institutions, individuals, public international organizations, and governmental institutions. This wide eligibility reflects the program’s interdisciplinary and cross-sector focus, encouraging participation from entities with expertise in technology policy, international relations, education, and capacity-building. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, lowering barriers to entry for qualified applicants. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov by the stated deadline of July 5, 2026. Applicants are expected to prepare a comprehensive proposal detailing program design, objectives, implementation strategy, and budget justification. While specific application components are not enumerated in the summary, standard federal grant submission requirements typically include narrative proposals, budget forms, and organizational information. There is no mention of a pre-application requirement such as a letter of intent. Applications will be evaluated based on their ability to deliver measurable outcomes, demonstrate cost-effectiveness, and align with the strategic goals of promoting U.S. technology standards and policies. The emphasis on participant outcomes and programmatic value suggests that evaluators will prioritize proposals with clear impact metrics, strong facilitation approaches, and scalable knowledge-sharing components. The cooperative agreement mechanism indicates that the U.S. government may have substantial involvement during program implementation. The timeline for this opportunity is straightforward, with applications opening on the posted date of June 23, 2026, and closing on July 5, 2026. The selected program is expected to culminate in a workshop in February 2027, implying a planning and preparation period of several months following award notification. No recurrence or future cycles are specified, indicating that this may be a one-time or non-recurring funding opportunity tied to a specific strategic initiative.

Proposals should emphasize cost effectiveness measurable outcomes and strong participant impact