Deadline: 05-Jul-2026
The U.S. Mission to ASEAN is inviting applications to implement the “Y-AI: Leveraging the U.S. Tech Stack for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific” workshop in Southeast Asia in February 2027. The opportunity has an award ceiling of $250,000 and aims to train up to 80 YSEALI exchange alumni leaders on AI policy, technology tools, and the U.S. AI and technology ecosystem.
Overview
The Y-AI workshop is an open competition announced by the U.S. Mission to ASEAN (USASEAN).
The selected applicant will design and implement a workshop for young Southeast Asian leaders, focusing on artificial intelligence, technology policy, and the role of the U.S. technology ecosystem in supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The workshop may be held in any major Southeast Asian city.
Key Details
- Opportunity: Y-AI: Leveraging the U.S. Tech Stack for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific
- Funder: U.S. Mission to ASEAN
- Region: Southeast Asia
- Workshop timing: February 2027
- Participants: Up to 80 YSEALI exchange alumni leaders
- Award ceiling: $250,000
- Eligible applicants: Organisations and individuals
- Workshop location: Any major Southeast Asian city
- Programme link: U.S. 250th anniversary-related initiative
Focus Areas and Themes
The opportunity focuses on AI leadership, technology policy, and professional capacity building.
Key themes include:
- Artificial intelligence policy
- AI governance and regulation
- U.S. technology ecosystem
- U.S. tech stack
- Free and open Indo-Pacific
- Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative
- Exchange alumni engagement
- Digital policy leadership
- Public and private sector technology tools
- Advocacy for common sense AI policies
- Technical regulatory perspectives
- Leadership development in Southeast Asia
Key Concepts Explained
What is the U.S. Tech Stack?
The U.S. tech stack refers to the ecosystem of technology tools, platforms, infrastructure, standards, companies, and policy approaches associated with the United States. In this workshop, it is positioned as a model for promoting freedom, prosperity, innovation, and open digital development.
What is AI Policy?
AI policy refers to the rules, principles, regulations, and governance systems that guide how artificial intelligence is developed, used, deployed, and monitored.
What is a Free and Open Indo-Pacific?
A free and open Indo-Pacific refers to a policy vision focused on openness, sovereignty, transparency, economic opportunity, security, and rule-based cooperation across the Indo-Pacific region.
What is YSEALI?
The Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) is a U.S. government exchange and leadership programme that engages young leaders from Southeast Asia.
What is Exchange Alumni Leadership?
Exchange alumni leadership refers to participants who have previously taken part in U.S.-supported exchange programmes and continue to contribute to policy, civic, professional, and community networks.
Who is Eligible to Apply?
Eligible applicants include organisations and individuals capable of implementing the workshop.
Eligible applicant types include:
- Not-for-profit organisations
- Think tanks
- Civil society organisations
- Non-governmental organisations
- Public educational institutions
- Private educational institutions
- Individuals
- Public international organisations
- Governmental institutions
Target Participants
The workshop will engage up to 80 exchange alumni leaders from the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs’ YSEALI programme.
Participants are expected to be young Southeast Asian leaders who can apply AI and technology-related knowledge in policy discussions, professional networks, and community initiatives.
Expected Workshop Outcomes
The workshop should help participants:
- Understand AI policy and regulation.
- Explore U.S. technical and regulatory perspectives.
- Learn how the U.S. technology ecosystem supports innovation.
- Use AI and technology tools in public and private policy work.
- Advocate for common sense AI policies.
- Strengthen professional networks across Southeast Asia.
- Apply workshop knowledge in their communities and careers.
Funding Amount and Budget Expectations
The award ceiling is $250,000.
Competitive proposals should demonstrate cost-effectiveness by showing how the proposed budget will maximize:
- Programmatic value
- Participant outcomes
- Workshop quality
- Regional impact
- Practical learning opportunities
How to Apply
Step 1: Confirm Applicant Eligibility
Check whether the applicant is an eligible organisation, institution, individual, public international organisation, or governmental institution.
Step 2: Design the Workshop Concept
Develop a workshop model that supports AI policy knowledge, leadership development, practical technology skills, and understanding of the U.S. tech ecosystem.
Step 3: Select a Southeast Asian City
Propose a major Southeast Asian city that is suitable for hosting up to 80 participants.
Step 4: Define Participant Engagement
Explain how the programme will serve YSEALI exchange alumni leaders and support their policy and professional networks.
Step 5: Build the Curriculum
Include sessions on AI governance, AI tools, technology policy, U.S. regulatory perspectives, digital leadership, and applications for public and private sector work.
Step 6: Prepare the Budget
Develop a budget that does not exceed $250,000 and clearly demonstrates cost-effectiveness.
Step 7: Show Impact and Follow-Up
Explain expected outcomes, participant learning, alumni engagement, and post-workshop impact.
Step 8: Submit the Application
Submit the proposal according to the U.S. Mission to ASEAN application requirements.
Why It Matters
The Y-AI workshop supports young leaders in Southeast Asia as AI becomes increasingly important in governance, business, media, civil society, and public policy.
The programme matters because it:
- Builds AI policy leadership among young Southeast Asian leaders.
- Supports responsible technology discussions.
- Strengthens U.S.-ASEAN engagement.
- Promotes open and innovation-friendly digital ecosystems.
- Equips exchange alumni to influence policy and professional networks.
- Encourages practical use of AI and technology tools.
- Links technology capacity building with the free and open Indo-Pacific vision.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Submitting a proposal that exceeds $250,000
- Designing a workshop without clear AI policy content
- Ignoring YSEALI exchange alumni as the target audience
- Proposing weak participant outcomes
- Failing to show cost-effectiveness
- Choosing a location without explaining suitability
- Providing a vague curriculum
- Not linking the workshop to U.S. technology perspectives
- Overlooking follow-up engagement after the workshop
Tips for a Strong Application
Applicants should:
- Present a clear and practical workshop design.
- Link AI policy learning to real-world public and private sector use.
- Show how participants will apply knowledge after the workshop.
- Include strong facilitators or subject experts.
- Demonstrate regional relevance for Southeast Asia.
- Keep the budget realistic and cost-effective.
- Align the proposal with the free and open Indo-Pacific framework.
- Include measurable learning and leadership outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Y-AI workshop opportunity?
It is an open competition by the U.S. Mission to ASEAN to implement a workshop in Southeast Asia focused on AI policy, U.S. technology tools, and the U.S. tech ecosystem.
When will the workshop take place?
The workshop is planned for February 2027.
Who will participate in the workshop?
The workshop will engage up to 80 YSEALI exchange alumni leaders from Southeast Asia.
What is the award ceiling?
The award ceiling is $250,000.
Who can apply?
Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organisations, think tanks, NGOs, educational institutions, individuals, public international organisations, and governmental institutions.
Where can the workshop be held?
The workshop may be conducted in any major Southeast Asian city.
What should a competitive proposal show?
A competitive proposal should show strong programme design, AI policy relevance, cost-effectiveness, participant outcomes, and alignment with the U.S. tech ecosystem and free and open Indo-Pacific goals.
Conclusion
The Y-AI: Leveraging the U.S. Tech Stack for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific opportunity supports the implementation of a regional AI leadership workshop for YSEALI alumni in Southeast Asia. With an award ceiling of $250,000, the programme aims to strengthen young leaders’ understanding of AI policy, U.S. technology approaches, and practical tools for shaping public and private sector discussions across the region.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
