Deadline: 30 August 2019
The Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs’ (OES) Office of Science and Technology Cooperation at the Department of State, has announced the Notice of Funding Opportunity (“NOFO”) for Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) initiative for programming in Ukraine.
GIST is a program that highlights American leadership in innovation, promotes S&T innovation and entrepreneurship among young innovators in low and middle income countries through networking, skills building, mentoring, and access to financing, and connects foreign entrepreneurs to American businesses in support of U.S. economic and security priorities. The agreements awarded will use Fiscal Year 2018 Assistance for Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia (AEECA) funds, subject to the availability of funds.
Program Goals
GIST strengthens the capacity of young science and technology innovators and entrepreneurs in low and middle income countries and the innovation ecosystems in which they operate. Specifically, GIST:
- Identifies and recruits the most talented young S&T entrepreneurs in GIST eligible countries and territories.
- Connects American businesses and experts with global innovators.
- Catalyzes participants’ success and boosts the confidence of participants through training, networking, and program structure.
- Promotes GIST participants’ innovations and stories to the public as role models for entrepreneurship and youth.
- Reinforces the role of American and scientific values, including integrity, ethics, merit-based competition, transparency, and scientific rigor.
- Engages participants, mentors, prominent U.S. entrepreneurs, and others to support GIST, to educate entrepreneurs, and to become and remain part of the broader GIST Network community.
- Ensures women and other underrepresented groups are well represented (experts, judges, participants, and mentors).
- Assembles participant/event information and updates to support the identification of gaps and the monitoring and evaluation of the ecosystem.
- Delivers activities that address skill and resource gaps in priority entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Award Information
- Award Ceiling: $500,000
- Award Floor: $500,000
Activities
The proposal will be for an in-country startup training for young innovators and entrepreneurs. This will be a onetime training program in Ukraine. The training should be inspired by NSF’sI-Corp program. The GIST in-country trainings should address the needs of a local/regional innovation ecosystem and spur the creation of new businesses by offering aspiring and existing S&T entrepreneurs tailored programs designed to provide them with the skills needed to create new or expand existing businesses. For maximum effect and sustainability, the training, and mentoring should be executed in partnership with a local organization and private sector, where possible. A follow up should occur to track participants’ outcomes. Additionally, GIST in-country meet ups (Innovation Hubs) and support for occasional “on demand” speaker travel to meet ups and priority countries should connect U.S. Embassies to innovators and sustain innovation ecosystem growth. Specific activities should include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Promote GIST throughout the target innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem(s).
- Identify and recruit the most talented young S&T entrepreneurs and select using a transparent merit-based selection process. Where applicable, support the regionalization of the event(s).
- Provide all participants with training that enhances their ability to advance their companies, and expands their understanding of innovation and entrepreneurship. Tailor the content, level, etc. to the needs of the selected community.
- Recruit prominent U.S. and regional trainers, entrepreneurs and partners to increase awareness of American businesses, GIST, and the quality GIST training events.Raise awareness for GIST and promote GIST participants as role models of innovation.
- Implement an energizing community “DEMO Day” event showcasing the participants, prominent U.S. entrepreneurs, or other catalyzing presentation to attract Press and build awareness of the value of S&T entrepreneurship and innovation broadly to ecosystem partners, U.S. Embassies and Consulates, and the public.
- Collect contact information for participant follow up and engagement through GIST Network. Evaluate the pre-event and post-event capacity of the participants.
- Sustain engagement by seeding Innovation Hubs and/or providing follow-on speaker engagement and or mentorship to participants after training events.
Expected Results
- Establish a stronger entrepreneurship ecosystem in Ukraine that develops ties with U.S. investors and businesses.
- Form strong businesses in Ukraine that are able to build the economic capacity for the host country.
- Develop the capacity of Ukraine to engage in innovative science and technology based entrepreneurship activities across all segments of society.
Eligible Applicants
Eligibility is limited to U.S. non-profit/nongovernmental organizations subject to section 501 (c) (3) of the U.S. tax code and U.S. educational institutions. Foreign organizations or Public International Organizations will NOT be considered for this competition.
How to Apply
Proposals must be submitted electronically via the given website.
For more information, please visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=318417