Global Innovation through Science and Technology: Global, ASEAN, and Pacific Islands | SFOP0008824

Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0008824

The Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0008824) is a U.S. Department of State program led by the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES) that focuses on strengthening innovation and entrepreneurship in science and technology across priority emerging markets, with emphasis spanning global regions including ASEAN and the Pacific Islands. The core idea is to use targeted science and technology-driven entrepreneurship programming to advance U.S. economic and national security objectives, in part by creating practical connections between American experts, companies, and networks and high-potential foreign entrepreneurs abroad. In other words, the program is designed to build innovation ecosystems and long-term relationships that can lead to trade, investment, collaboration, and shared problem-solving between the United States and partner economies.

A key point of the opportunity is that it builds on an established initiative with a sizable track record. Over the past decade, GIST reports engagement with more than 27 million members of the broader innovation community across more than 130 emerging economies, along with direct mentorship provided to more than 15,000 startups. Those mentored startups are cited as having generated more than $250 million in revenue and nearly 6,000 jobs, and the program highlights that it has helped create business relationships with well-known American companies such as Coca-Cola, Expedia, and Amazon Web Services. This performance history signals that the grant is meant to support programming that is both scalable and measurable, and that it aims to translate training and mentorship into real commercial outcomes, partnerships, and job creation.

The funding mechanism is a discretionary Cooperative Agreement, which usually implies substantial involvement by the government agency in shaping or collaborating on the project during implementation rather than a hands-off relationship. The activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development (CFDA 19.017). The opportunity anticipated making about three awards, with an award ceiling of $1,360,649. The posting indicates it was created on April 6, 2022, with an original closing date of June 1, 2022, which situates it as a time-bound competition for organizations prepared to deliver multi-country or regional innovation programming aligned with GIST goals.

In terms of what funded projects are expected to do, the opportunity description emphasizes hands-on entrepreneurship and ecosystem development activities. Examples include in-country trainings such as startup training and investor training (suggesting programs that strengthen both the supply side of entrepreneurs and the demand side of capital and mentorship), interactive online programs that can reach participants across borders at scale, and pitch competitions that help founders practice investor engagement, validate market fit, and potentially access partners and funding. Overall, the funded work is geared toward identifying promising science and technology entrepreneurs, improving their business capabilities and investment readiness, and connecting them to mentors, investors, and U.S. business relationships that can accelerate growth.

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional details referenced in the full notice under the Additional Information on Eligibility section. That phrasing typically means the competition may be open to a wider range of non-federal entities (often including nonprofits, academic institutions, and other qualified organizations), but the precise eligible applicant types and any geographic or partnership requirements would be defined in the full announcement. For further program context, the notice directs readers to GISTNetwork.org, which serves as the central public-facing hub for the initiative and its community, resources, and past programming.

• The Department of State, Bureau of Oceans - Int. Environmental - Scientific in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Global Innovation through Science and Technology: Global, ASEAN, and Pacific Islands" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.017.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 06, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 01, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,360,649.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for SFOP0008824

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: