DOS-SAU-2603-PD: University-led Networks for Innovation, Technology, and Expertise (UNITE)
Closed
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 Saudi Arabia notices from 2026.
U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia offered grants of up to $150,000 (at least $90,000) to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make one award worth $150,000 in total. Applications closed on September 14, 2026.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed September 7, 2026. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award ceiling$150,000
- Award floor$90,000
- Total funding$150,000
- Expected awards1
- Cost sharingNot required
- Funding typeCooperative Agreement
Key dates
| Posted | August 18, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | September 14, 2026 |
| Archived by Grants.gov | October 17, 2026 |
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)
• Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations • Public and private educational institutions (with preference for U.S. higher education institutions or entities with robust academic networks);• Public International Organizations and Governmental institutions
Is this a realistic fit?
- Past Public Diplomacy Programs awards averaged $26,570; this notice allows up to $150,000 per award.
- No cost sharing or match is required.
What the grant funds
The U.S. Embassy Riyadh Public Diplomacy Section is accepting applications for a cooperative agreement to run the University-led Networks for Innovation, Technology, and Expertise (UNITE) program. UNITE will support approximately four to five applied project teams — university-industry partnerships between U.S. universities, U.S. companies or technical partners, and Saudi institutions — through project seed awards of up to $25,000 each to solve specific Saudi workforce and development gaps in high-demand strategic sectors, including Artificial Intelligence, critical minerals, cybersecurity, emerging technologies, and workforce development. Each project team will produce a U.S.-linked deliverable — such as a curriculum, module, technical roadmap, or standards briefs — that creates durable pathways for Saudi investment in American academic, workforce, and industry collaboration. Mission KSA will award a cooperative agreement to a single U.S. academic implementing partner to manage the portfolio. Each participating project team must provide a 1:1 cost-share match to ensure genuine institutional commitment and long-term viability.
Who has won Public Diplomacy Programs grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Public Diplomacy Programs (19.040) awarded $358 million across 13,489 grant awards, an average of $26,570 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Foreign Awardees | 2,478 | $50.3 million | |
| Meridian International Center | District of Columbia | 27 | $6.5 million |
| American Councils for International Education: Actr/Accels, Inc. | District of Columbia | 72 | $4.7 million |
| Cultural Vistas, Inc. | District of Columbia | 22 | $4.7 million |
| World Learning Inc. | Vermont | 25 | $4.4 million |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Agencies often post the same opportunity again under a new number, so check the program's notices on Grants.gov and the similar open grants below.
The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.
Questions people ask
Is DOS-SAU-2603-PD still open?
No. It closed on September 14, 2026.
Who can apply for University-led Networks for Innovation, Technology, and Expertise (UNITE)?
U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.
What is the deadline for University-led Networks for Innovation, Technology, and Expertise (UNITE)?
Closed September 14, 2026. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.
How much funding is available?
Awards of up to $150,000 each. About $150,000 in total for one award.
Who has won Public Diplomacy Programs grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Miscellaneous Foreign Awardees, Meridian International Center, American Councils for International Education: Actr/Accels, Inc. The program made 13,489 awards worth $358 million in that time.
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