Deadline: 01-Jul-2026
The U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo is inviting eligible organizations to implement the U.S.-D.R. Technology and Science Innovation Fair in the Dominican Republic. The program will connect Dominican youth, entrepreneurs, university students, innovators, and STEM professionals with U.S. companies, startups, technology experts, and innovation opportunities. Funding ranges from $30,000 to $80,000, with total available funding of $80,000, subject to availability of funds.
Overview
The U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo has announced an open competition for the U.S.-D.R. Technology and Science Innovation Fair.
The opportunity is designed to strengthen technology, science, entrepreneurship, and innovation ties between the United States and the Dominican Republic.
The selected recipient will organize a large-scale public event that brings together Dominican youth, entrepreneurs, private-sector leaders, university students, academic stakeholders, and STEM professionals with U.S. companies, technology experts, startups, and innovation leaders.
Key Funding Details
- Opportunity Name: U.S.-D.R. Technology and Science Innovation Fair
- Funder: U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo Public Diplomacy Section
- Country: Dominican Republic
- Funding Range: $30,000 to $80,000
- Total Available Funding: $80,000, pending availability of funds
- Project Duration: Up to two years
- Anticipated Start Date: July 2027
- Target Participants: At least 500 participants
- Main Focus: Technology, science, innovation, entrepreneurship, STEM engagement, U.S.–Dominican Republic partnerships, and commercial ties
Purpose of the Program
The purpose of the U.S.-D.R. Technology and Science Innovation Fair is to position the United States as a leading partner in technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, and emerging industries.
The program aims to create direct engagement between Dominican participants and U.S. companies, startups, technology experts, and innovation ecosystem leaders.
It also supports stronger commercial and people-to-people ties between the United States and the Dominican Republic through interactive learning, networking, mentorship, and collaboration.
Main Objectives
The program is designed to advance U.S.–Dominican Republic cooperation in science, technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
Key objectives include:
- Promoting U.S. leadership in technology and innovation
- Strengthening U.S.–Dominican Republic commercial ties
- Supporting people-to-people connections
- Fostering partnerships between U.S. and Dominican innovation ecosystems
- Increasing awareness of U.S.-linked academic opportunities
- Increasing awareness of U.S.-linked professional opportunities
- Increasing awareness of U.S.-linked entrepreneurial opportunities
- Connecting Dominican youth with U.S. companies and experts
- Supporting technology exhibitions and innovation showcases
- Encouraging mentorship, networking, and collaboration
Focus Areas
The funding opportunity supports activities linked to technology, science, entrepreneurship, and emerging industries.
Key focus areas include:
- Technology innovation
- Science innovation
- Entrepreneurship
- Emerging industries
- Semiconductors
- Artificial intelligence
- Engineering
- Cybersecurity
- Digital innovation
- STEM education and engagement
- Startup ecosystem development
- Workforce development
- Academic and professional exchange
- Private-sector collaboration
- Youth engagement
- Innovation ecosystem partnerships
What the Innovation Fair Will Include
The selected recipient will organize and coordinate a large-scale technology and science fair.
The fair may include:
- U.S. corporate booths
- Technology demonstrations
- Interactive exhibitions
- Innovation showcases
- Panel discussions
- Networking sessions
- Mentorship activities
- Entrepreneur storytelling sessions
- Alumni storytelling sessions
- Discussions on U.S. leadership in technology
- Discussions on semiconductors and emerging industries
- Collaboration opportunities with U.S. experts and companies
The event should be designed to create meaningful interaction between participants and U.S.-linked innovation opportunities.
Target Participants
The program aims to engage at least 500 participants.
Target participants include:
- University students
- Young professionals
- Entrepreneurs
- Startup founders
- Faculty members
- Academic stakeholders
- Industry representatives
- Emerging STEM professionals
- Dominican youth interested in technology and innovation
- Private-sector leaders
The initiative should help participants explore professional development, entrepreneurship, exchange, and collaboration pathways connected to the United States.
Who is Eligible?
Eligible applicants include U.S. and Dominican organizations with relevant experience in technology, entrepreneurship, STEM, youth programming, or workforce development.
Eligible applicants include:
- U.S. not-for-profit organizations
- Dominican not-for-profit organizations
- Chambers of commerce
- Business associations
- Entrepreneurship hubs
- Innovation hubs
- Technology incubators
- Startup incubators
- Technology accelerators
- Startup accelerators
- Higher education institutions
- Alumni associations
- Civil society organizations
Applicants should have experience managing programs or events related to STEM, entrepreneurship, workforce development, youth engagement, or innovation.
Applicant Capacity Requirements
Applicants should demonstrate the ability to manage a large-scale public event and coordinate multiple stakeholders.
Relevant experience may include:
- Managing large-scale public events
- Coordinating event logistics
- Engaging private-sector stakeholders
- Managing vendors
- Conducting outreach activities
- Working with youth audiences
- Supporting entrepreneurship initiatives
- Delivering STEM-related programming
- Coordinating academic or professional stakeholders
- Building partnerships with innovation ecosystem actors
What the Program Supports
The funding will support the implementation of a large-scale technology and science fair.
Supported activities may include:
- Event planning and coordination
- Venue and logistics management
- Outreach to target participants
- Engagement with U.S. companies and experts
- Coordination of technology demonstrations
- Development of panel sessions
- Startup and innovation showcases
- Networking and mentorship programming
- Vendor coordination
- Communications and promotion
- Participant engagement activities
- Monitoring and reporting on program outcomes
Priority Technology Themes
The program seeks to increase Dominican engagement with U.S.-linked opportunities in high-growth technology and science fields.
Priority themes include:
- Semiconductors
- Artificial intelligence
- Engineering
- Cybersecurity
- Digital innovation
- Emerging technology
- Science and technology entrepreneurship
- Innovation ecosystem development
Applicants should show how the fair will expose participants to these fields and create pathways for continued engagement.
Expected Results
The program is expected to strengthen innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology connections between the United States and the Dominican Republic.
Expected results may include:
- At least 500 participants engaged
- Increased awareness of U.S. technology leadership
- Stronger U.S.–Dominican Republic innovation partnerships
- More connections between Dominican entrepreneurs and U.S. companies
- Increased exposure to STEM and emerging industries
- Greater awareness of U.S.-linked academic and professional opportunities
- Stronger engagement with U.S. experts, startups, and technology leaders
- Improved collaboration between both countries’ innovation ecosystems
Why This Opportunity Matters
The U.S.-D.R. Technology and Science Innovation Fair matters because it creates a platform for Dominican youth and innovators to engage directly with U.S. technology and entrepreneurship ecosystems.
The event can help students, entrepreneurs, and STEM professionals discover new pathways in fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, semiconductors, engineering, and digital innovation.
By supporting collaboration between U.S. and Dominican stakeholders, the initiative can strengthen economic ties, workforce development, innovation capacity, and long-term bilateral cooperation.
How to Apply or Prepare
Applicants should prepare a strong proposal that explains how they will design, organize, and implement the innovation fair.
Step 1: Confirm Organizational Eligibility
Applicants should confirm that they are eligible to apply.
Eligible organizations may include:
- U.S. or Dominican not-for-profit organizations
- Chambers of commerce
- Business associations
- Innovation hubs
- Entrepreneurship hubs
- Incubators or accelerators
- Higher education institutions
- Alumni associations
- Civil society organizations
Step 2: Define the Event Concept
Applicants should describe the structure and purpose of the U.S.-D.R. Technology and Science Innovation Fair.
The proposal should explain:
- Event format
- Target audience
- Main technology themes
- Proposed sessions
- Expected number of participants
- Role of U.S. companies and experts
- Opportunities for networking and mentorship
- How the fair will promote innovation and entrepreneurship
Step 3: Show Experience in Large-Scale Event Management
Applicants should demonstrate that they can manage a large public event.
The proposal should highlight experience with:
- Event planning
- Logistics coordination
- Vendor management
- Outreach campaigns
- Speaker coordination
- Private-sector engagement
- Youth or university programming
- STEM or entrepreneurship initiatives
Step 4: Engage U.S. and Dominican Stakeholders
Applicants should explain how they will bring together participants from both countries’ innovation ecosystems.
Relevant stakeholders may include:
- U.S. companies
- Dominican entrepreneurs
- Startups
- Technology experts
- University partners
- STEM professionals
- Industry representatives
- Alumni networks
- Innovation hubs
- Private-sector leaders
Step 5: Plan Interactive Activities
The fair should include interactive and engaging activities that create direct learning and networking opportunities.
Possible activities include:
- Technology exhibitions
- Corporate demonstrations
- Innovation showcases
- Panel discussions
- Mentorship sessions
- Entrepreneur storytelling
- Alumni storytelling
- Startup networking
- Collaboration meetings
Step 6: Align with Priority Fields
Applicants should clearly show how the project will increase engagement in priority fields.
These may include:
- Semiconductors
- Artificial intelligence
- Engineering
- Cybersecurity
- Digital innovation
- Emerging industries
Step 7: Prepare the Budget
Applicants may request funding between $30,000 and $80,000.
The budget should clearly connect costs to event delivery, outreach, logistics, participant engagement, vendor management, communications, and program activities.
Step 8: Plan Monitoring and Results
Applicants should explain how they will track participation, engagement, partnerships, and outcomes.
Useful indicators may include:
- Number of participants reached
- Number of U.S. companies or experts engaged
- Number of Dominican entrepreneurs or students engaged
- Number of networking or mentorship sessions delivered
- Participant satisfaction
- Partnerships or follow-up opportunities created
- Awareness of U.S.-linked opportunities increased
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid submitting proposals that describe only a general technology event without a clear U.S.–Dominican Republic connection.
The project should not lack private-sector engagement. The opportunity specifically emphasizes U.S. companies, experts, startups, and innovation leaders.
Applicants should avoid vague outreach plans. The proposal should explain how at least 500 participants will be reached and engaged.
Projects should not ignore priority fields such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, engineering, cybersecurity, and digital innovation.
Applicants should avoid weak logistics planning, especially because the program requires management of a large-scale public event.
Budgets should remain within the funding range of $30,000 to $80,000.
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application should clearly show event management capacity, stakeholder engagement, and measurable innovation outcomes.
Applicants should:
- Present a clear event concept
- Show strong experience in large-scale event coordination
- Include U.S. company and expert engagement
- Demonstrate strong outreach to Dominican youth and entrepreneurs
- Focus on priority technology fields
- Include interactive activities, not only presentations
- Build partnerships with universities, startups, and private-sector actors
- Explain how the event will reach at least 500 participants
- Provide a realistic budget
- Include clear monitoring and evaluation indicators
- Show how the event will strengthen U.S.–Dominican Republic innovation ties
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the U.S.-D.R. Technology and Science Innovation Fair?
The U.S.-D.R. Technology and Science Innovation Fair is a funding opportunity from the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo to support a large-scale event connecting Dominican youth, entrepreneurs, innovators, and STEM professionals with U.S. companies, experts, startups, and innovation opportunities.
How much funding is available?
Awards range from $30,000 to $80,000. The total available funding is $80,000, pending availability of funds.
Who can apply?
Eligible applicants include U.S. and Dominican not-for-profit organizations, chambers of commerce, business associations, entrepreneurship and innovation hubs, incubators, accelerators, higher education institutions, alumni associations, and civil society organizations.
Who should the fair engage?
The fair should engage at least 500 participants, including university students, entrepreneurs, startup founders, faculty members, young professionals, industry representatives, academic stakeholders, and emerging STEM professionals.
What activities should the fair include?
The fair may include U.S. corporate booths, technology demonstrations, innovation showcases, panel discussions, networking sessions, mentorship activities, entrepreneur storytelling, alumni storytelling, and collaboration opportunities.
What technology fields are priorities?
Priority fields include semiconductors, artificial intelligence, engineering, cybersecurity, digital innovation, entrepreneurship, and emerging industries.
How long can proposed projects last?
Proposed projects should be completed within two years or less, with an anticipated project start date of July 2027.
Conclusion
The U.S.-D.R. Technology and Science Innovation Fair is a major opportunity to strengthen technology, science, entrepreneurship, and innovation partnerships between the United States and the Dominican Republic.
With funding between $30,000 and $80,000, the program will support an eligible organization to design and deliver a large-scale event that connects Dominican youth, entrepreneurs, students, and STEM professionals with U.S. companies and innovation leaders.
This opportunity is best suited for organizations with strong event management experience, private-sector engagement capacity, and a clear plan to promote U.S.–Dominican Republic collaboration in technology, entrepreneurship, and emerging industries.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
