AI Partnership & Exchange for Tech Leaders (APEX)

The U.S. Embassy Riyadh Public Diplomacy Section has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (DOS-SAU-2602-PD) for a cooperative agreement to implement the "AI Partnership & Exchange for Tech Leaders" (APEX) program. With an estimated budget of up to $250,000 funded by FY26 Smith-Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds, this initiative aims to connect emerging Saudi Arabian AI leaders aged 20 to 30 with American experts in business, technology, and academia. The project must be completed within 12 to 24 months and consists of three mandatory phases: an online application and virtual preparatory hackathon; a two-week U.S. exchange program across multiple tech-hub cities paired with a three-month mentorship; and a follow-on capstone showcase summit in Saudi Arabia. Eligible applicants include non-profits, think tanks, civil society organizations, and educational institutions. Applicants must submit proposals by September 8, 2026, and provide three distinct budget scenarios scaled for cohorts of 12, 16 (primary), and 20 participants. Because this is a cooperative agreement, the U.S. Embassy Riyadh will maintain substantial programmatic involvement, including direct participation in participant selection, curriculum approval, and media coordination. Funding is subject to strict guidelines, including prohibitions on purchasing permanent IT infrastructure, funding for-profit sub-awards, or supporting venture capital seed funding. Proposals will be evaluated based on program quality, partnership strategy, organizational capacity, budget cost-effectiveness, and monitoring plans.