Young Trilateral Leaders (YTL) Regional Workshop on Emerging Technologies

The U.S. Embassy in Seoul, through its Public Diplomacy Section, has announced a funding opportunity titled the Young Trilateral Leaders (YTL) Regional Workshop on Emerging Technologies. This initiative is supported by the FY25 Smith Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds, with a cooperative agreement structure that involves close collaboration with the Embassy throughout the planning and implementation phases. This opportunity aims to promote regional collaboration among youth from the United States, Republic of Korea, and Japan, with a focus on critical and emerging technologies. The total funding available is $75,000, with one award anticipated for a 12-month project period beginning in November 2025. The funding opportunity number is PD-SEOUL-FY25-10. This workshop builds upon the outcomes of high-level trilateral summits, including the 2023 Camp David Trilateral Leaders’ Summit and the 2024 U.S.–ROK–Japan Trilateral Global Leadership Youth Summit. The primary goal is to enhance U.S. leadership in emerging technologies while fostering trilateral cooperation through youth engagement. The workshop will convene Korean and Japanese youth with American peer experts to address pressing challenges related to security, economic resilience, and civic engagement in the Indo-Pacific region. It will emphasize U.S. innovation in technology and aims to establish long-lasting professional ties among participants. The program includes both in-person and virtual components. The main workshop will be held in a city outside the Seoul metropolitan area in 2026, and will be complemented by virtual sessions conducted before and/or after the event. These online engagements are designed to provide technical preparation and sustain collaboration among participants. Topics may include AI's role in democratic institutions and education, quantum computing, semiconductors, immersive technologies, youth civic tech engagement, and space exploration. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations, think tanks, civil society organizations, public and private educational institutions, public international organizations, and governmental institutions. All applicants must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and active registration in SAM.gov. Individuals are not eligible to apply. While cost sharing is not required, voluntary cost share may be considered as a positive indicator of organizational commitment during the review process. Applications are due by Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. GMT+9 and must be submitted via email to SeoulPDGrants@state.gov. Required documents include SF-424 forms, a proposal narrative (max 10 pages), budget narrative, CVs for key personnel, letters of support, and if applicable, a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA). The proposal must outline project goals, methodology, schedule, key personnel, partner organizations, monitoring and evaluation plans, and sustainability considerations. Proposals will be evaluated based on criteria such as quality and feasibility of the program idea, organizational capacity, effectiveness of the project design, budget realism, monitoring and evaluation plans, and long-term sustainability. Awards will be announced in September 2025. The Department of State may consider continuation funding on a non-competitive basis, contingent on performance and fund availability. For technical questions, applicants may contact SeoulPDGrants@state.gov.