Deadline: 1-Mar-21
The U.S. Department of State has launched its flagship program Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative (YTILI) for emerging entrepreneurs from Europe. A cohort of young European entrepreneurs from 45 countries will participate in a robust fellowship program in 2021-2022.
The YTILI Fellowship Program engages young European entrepreneurs in a series of professional development and leadership activities that are designed to strengthen the transatlantic relationship and encourage European businesses, governments and civil society to develop their innovation ecosystems.
The program includes an online and in-person entrepreneurship curriculum; a fellowship placement with a business or organization in one of nine U.S. cities; opening and closing conferences in Chicago and Washington, D.C.; and a regional Innovation Summit in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
The 2021-2022 YTILI Fellowship Program will run from October 2021 to September 2022, with U.S. travel elements scheduled for March 22, 2022 – April 27, 2022.
Program Goals
- Mutual Understanding: YTILI deepens cross-cultural understanding through fellowship placements, homestays, community service, cultural activities, and reciprocal exchanges.
- Transatlantic Partnership Building: YTILI creates a dynamic network of leaders that supports entrepreneurial partnerships between the people of Europe and the United States through networking events, international conferences, and alumni engagement.
- Leadership & Entrepreneurial Skill Development: YTILI commits to providing quality fellowship placements and expert-led curricula to inspire Fellows to grow their businesses in size and impact, and drive positive change in the economic ecosystems in their home communities.
- Sustainable Professional Exchange & Collaboration: YTILI provides Fellows with opportunities to engage before, during, and after the U.S. Fellowship to collaborate and share ideas, approaches, and strategies to continue to improve their business or social ventures.
Eligibility Criteria
Competition for the YTILI Fellowship Program is merit-based and open to young entrepreneurs and leaders in their home communities who meet the following criteria:
- Applicants between the ages of 25 and 35 at the time of application.
- Applicants who are citizens of the following countries: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom.
- Applicants must be living and working in their country of citizenship.
- Have at least two (2) years of experience at their current social or business venture.
- Able to begin the YTILI Mini MBA Entrepreneurship Curriculum in November 2021 and their U.S. based experience in March – April 2022.
- Are eligible and able to receive a U.S. J-1 Visa.
- Are proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English at the time of application.
- Are committed to returning to his or her home country after completion of the program.
- Are not a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident of the United States or have applied for U.S. permanent residency in the past three years.
- Are not a U.S. government employee.
- Have not participated in an exchange visitor program sponsored or funded by the U.S. Department of State in the past five years.
- Are not residing or working outside of Europe at the time of application.
Please Note
- YTILI Fellows are not allowed to bring dependents (including spouses and children) during the U.S. Fellowship, U.S. Conferences, and the Innovation Summit.
- The U.S. Department of State and WorldChicago reserve the right to verify the information included in the application. If there is a discrepancy, or information is found to be false, the application will immediately be declared invalid and the applicant ineligible. If you do not meet the technical eligibility requirements for this program, please visit the website for information on other U.S. Department of State exchange opportunities.
- The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State strives to ensure that its efforts reflect the diversity of U.S. society and societies abroad. The Bureau seeks and encourages the involvement of people from traditionally underrepresented audiences in all its grants, programs and other activities and in its workforce and workplace. Opportunities are open to people regardless of their race, color, sex, religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. The Bureau is committed to fairness, equity and inclusion.
For more information, visit https://sk.usembassy.gov/2021-ytili-call-for-applications-now-open/