Grants / Department of State / U.S. Mission to Albania

AMERICANSPACESGAMEON-2026: GameON – U.S.-Albania E-Sports and Innovation

Closed Closed August 20, 2026 Opportunity AMERICANSPACESGAMEON-2026 ☆ Save

This grant is closed. Who won this program's grants before is below, and similar open grants are at the end of the page. It is in our archive of U.S. Mission to Albania notices from 2026.

• Award ceiling$8,000
• Award floor$3,000
• Total funding$8,000
• Expected awards1
• Cost sharingNot required
• Funding typeCooperative Agreement

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.

• Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

1. Eligible Applicants The following organizations are eligible to apply: • Not-for-profit U.S. and Albanian organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations • U.S. and Albanian Individuals For-profit entities, even those that may fall into the categories listed above, are not eligible to apply for this NOFO. Organizations may sub-contract with other entities, but only one, non-profit, non-governmental entity can be the prime recipient of the award. When sub-contracting with other entities, the responsibilities of each entity must be clearly defined in the proposal. For more information on the difference between sub-contract and sub-recipient, please refer to 2 CFR 200.331. 2. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost sharing or matching is encouraged but not required for this funding opportunity. 3. Other Eligibility Requirements All organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) issued via SAM.gov as well as a valid registration in SAM.gov. Please see Section E.3 for more information. Individuals are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov. 4. This opportunity will not support: • Projects relating to partisan political activity; • Charitable or development activities; including direct social services such as medical, psychological, and/or humanitarian support • Construction projects; • Projects that support specific religious activities; • Fund-raising campaigns; • Lobbying for specific legislation or programs • Scientific research or surveys; • Commercial projects; • Projects intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization; • Projects that duplicate existing projects; or • Illegal activities

Is this a realistic fit?

• Past ECA – American Spaces awards averaged $19,857; this notice allows up to $8,000 per award.
• No cost sharing or match is required.

What the grant funds

1. Project Background, Goals, and Objectives Albania's youth face a rapidly evolving digital economy that demands advanced technical skills, entrepreneurial mindsets, and exposure to international industry standards. Albanian interest in gaming – a global market forecasted to surpass $745 billion by 2030, in which the United States is leading – is high, presenting an opportunity to increase Albanian understanding of how U.S. economic strength and technological leadership support shared prosperity. By providing youth access to high-quality, structured training in coding, game design, and digital entrepreneurship, this program strengthens Albanian youths’ association between the United States and innovation, creativity, and opportunity; demonstrates the United States capacity to adapt and lead in a burgeoning tech market; and increases interest in U.S. products, technology, and brands. As a global, web-based arena for exchange, the gaming market also presents opportunities to promote digital freedom increases the durability and reach of U.S. narratives beyond official channels. This program will further those efforts by prioritizing American standards and values in online game development. Include information of past projects. How will this project build on previous efforts? What kinds of programming has the Mission and other partners funded in the past to address this problem? Which activities have worked well (best practices), and which activities have not (lessons learned)? This program capitalizes on a popular past U.S. Speaker Program on game development and an established network of partners in the local tech, business, and education community. It also complements ongoing programs in cybersecurity and AI training to promote American technology across an array of emerging fields. All activities must demonstrate strong connections to U.S. expertise, technology, and best practices, clearly explaining how these ties support program objectives and advance U.S. interests. Examples include: use of U.S.-developed game engines, coding platforms, and e-sports platforms; curriculum informed by U.S. industry standards and educational models; guest speakers or mentors from U.S. tech companies, universities, or entrepreneurial ecosystems, or alumni of the Department of State exchanges who serve as credible validators of American innovation; and exposure to U.S. startup methodologies and business frameworks.

Category: Other.

Applying now

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