AI Partnership & Exchange for Tech Leaders (APEX)

About this funding opportunity

Program Purpose

The U.S. Embassy Riyadh Public Diplomacy Section is accepting applications for a cooperative agreement to run the AI Partnership & Exchange for Tech Leaders. The goal of this program is to connect rising Saudi Artificial Intelligence (AI) leaders with American experts in business, tech, and academia. This initiative helps participants build professional networks, study U.S. technology standards, and create lasting partnerships between American and Saudi institutions.

Target Audience and Participants

The program should be designed for Saudi nationals aged 20 to 30. Participants must be undergraduate, graduate, or post-doctoral students, or recent graduates who are studying or working in AI-related fields (such as data science, robotics, or machine learning). They must also speak fluent English and show strong leadership potential. Provide three complete budget scenarios for 12 participants, 16 participants (primary), and 20 participants.

Applicants must provide budget scenarios for three participant cohort sizes:

· 12 participants

· 16 participants (primary scenario)

· 20 participants

Each budget scenario should maintain program quality while demonstrating cost-effectiveness at different scales.

Program Components

In addition to the planning and preparation with the Embassy and partner organizations, the selected partner will plan and run three mandatory participant-focused phases:

· Phase 1: Preparation (Virtual and In-Person) around April 1, 2027: The partner will create an online application portal and launch a recruiting campaign. They will host a virtual hackathon to help short-listed candidates design an AI project idea. Top project ideas will determine who wins a spot on the exchange trip. The partner will also train the group in leadership, project management, and cross-cultural communication before they travel.

· Phase 2: U.S. Exchange (Two Weeks) in July 2027: The partner will lead a two-week summer trip to two or three U.S. cities. The trip will include visits to American tech hubs and universities, networking events, workshops at a major AI summit, and cultural activities. The partner will also match each participant with a professional mentor for three months of bi-weekly virtual career coaching after the exchange program component.

Phase 3: Follow-On Summit (Saudi Arabia) on/around January 2028: Within three to six months after the trip, the partner will organize a showcase event in Saudi Arabia. Participants will present their follow-on capstone AI projects to local tech communities, government leaders, and investors. This could be adjacent to major Saudi AI summits or a USG-related event.

Topic areas: Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), Education and Training, Social Innovation and Community Development.

Funding amount

This cooperative agreement provides $150K-$250K in funding, up to $250K per award.

Deadline

Applications are due Sep 08, 2026. Confirm the exact closing time on the official program page before applying.

Who can apply

This opportunity is open to the following applicant types:

• Other
• NGOs
• University
• Public Authorities

Eligibility

- Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations - Public and private educational institutions - Public International Organizations and Governmental institutions

Agency

AI Partnership & Exchange for Tech Leaders (APEX) is administered by U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia (SAU), listed via Grants.gov.