FY 2026 TechLeaders: Critical Emerging Technologies Exchange

The FY TechLeaders: Critical Emerging Technologies Exchange is a federal cooperative agreement opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of State through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), Office of Citizen Exchanges, Global Leaders Division. The program is designed to strengthen U.S. leadership and influence in critical emerging technology sectors by facilitating international professional exchanges between American technology leaders and foreign STEM professionals. The initiative supports U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by promoting American technological standards, expanding economic partnerships, and countering the influence of geopolitical competitors in strategic technology sectors. The program focuses specifically on Artificial Intelligence, Space Technology, Biotechnology and Health Technology, Supply Chain and Cold Chain Technology, and Agricultural Technology. The Department anticipates issuing one cooperative agreement award with approximately $1,500,000 in total available funding and an anticipated performance period of 24 to 30 months. The program will engage approximately 60 international participants between the ages of 25 and 40 from Sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Eurasia, the Middle East and North Africa, South and Central Asia, and the Western Hemisphere. Participants must possess at least two years of professional experience in STEM industries directly related to critical emerging technologies and demonstrate leadership potential in their countries. The selected participants will complete five-week project-based mentorship placements in the United States with host businesses and institutions aligned to one of five industry tracks. The exchange model is intended to expose participants to American innovation ecosystems, business practices, technical standards, and collaborative development processes. Each participant will work with U.S.-based mentors to develop practical and actionable projects addressing technology challenges in their home countries while reinforcing U.S. strategic interests abroad. In addition to the U.S.-based mentorships, the program includes reciprocal exchange activities and long-term alumni engagement components. Following completion of the U.S. placement, selected American mentors will travel overseas to implement up to 10 reciprocal exchange projects developed jointly with foreign participants during the exchange. These reciprocal exchanges are intended to strengthen long-term economic and professional collaboration between U.S. organizations and international partners while promoting adoption of U.S. technology standards and practices. The solicitation also requires applicants to demonstrate the capacity to implement a future Critical Emerging Technologies Accelerator beginning in subsequent award renewals. The accelerator component will bring together alumni, American hosts, embassy representatives, industry experts, and business leaders for professional development activities, networking events, and seed funding competitions intended to scale successful projects and reinforce the United States as a global leader in emerging technologies. Eligible applicants include U.S. nonprofit organizations, civil society organizations, think tanks, and public or private educational institutions. Organizations must maintain an active SAM.gov registration and possess a Unique Entity Identifier. Applicants must also demonstrate at least four years of experience conducting international exchange programs in order to receive funding above $130,000. Only one proposal per organization will be reviewed. Applications must include a completed SF-424 form, SF-424A budget form, detailed line-item budget, executive summary, proposal narrative, and budget narrative. The narrative portion may not exceed 20 double-spaced pages and must address vision and program need, participating organizations, program activities, monitoring and evaluation, alumni engagement, project management, and work plan timelines. Applicants are encouraged to include letters of commitment from U.S. and international partners, resumes of key staff, sample materials, and supporting documentation related to institutional capacity and exchange experience. Allowable expenses under the award include international and domestic travel, participant housing, orientation activities, insurance supplementation, reciprocal exchange costs, staffing, consultant fees, program materials, website development, database management software, and accessibility accommodations for individuals with disabilities. The Department encourages cost sharing but does not require a minimum match percentage. The Bureau also strongly encourages applicants to maximize private sector support and institutional contributions. The award recipient will be responsible for participant recruitment and selection, host institution engagement, visa sponsorship through DS-2019 issuance, monitoring and evaluation, alumni programming, outreach and communications strategies, reciprocal exchange implementation, and financial management. The Department will remain substantially involved throughout implementation through approvals of participant selections, host organizations, program agendas, publicity materials, and ongoing monitoring activities. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov no later than July 6, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. The Department strongly recommends that applicants begin registration and submission processes several weeks in advance because SAM.gov and Grants.gov registration may take up to four weeks. The anticipated award date is July 2026. Recruitment and preparation activities are expected to occur between August 2026 and September 2027, with U.S.-based exchanges taking place from September through November 2027. Reciprocal exchanges are projected for February through May 2028, followed by final program closeout activities through July 2028. Applications will be evaluated equally on program quality, institutional capacity, follow-on activities, monitoring and evaluation plans, cost-effectiveness, and alignment with U.S. foreign policy goals. Questions regarding the opportunity may be directed to Program Officer Michelle Harris at harrismr@state.gov or Branch Chief Dawnjalice Brown at brownd4@state.gov. The program is anticipated to recur through potential annual renewals, subject to satisfactory performance and future funding availability.

Demonstrate strong institutional capacity in international exchanges and clearly align the proposal with U.S. foreign policy and emerging technology leadership objectives. Provide detailed monitoring and evaluation plans tied to MODE indicators. Emphasize partnerships with U.S. technology companies and show robust alumni engagement strategies. Keep administrative and overhead costs low while maximizing cost share and private sector collaboration.