Call for Moonshot: Artemis Edition Initiative (Morocco)

Deadline: 13-Jul-2026

The Moonshot: Artemis Edition is a nationwide public diplomacy initiative focused on strengthening awareness of U.S. leadership in space exploration and advanced technologies. It targets youth engagement in Morocco through science, technology, entrepreneurship, and space economy-related programming.

The initiative builds connections between Moroccan participants and the U.S. innovation ecosystem, particularly NASA and private space sector actors.

Programme Objectives

The program aims to:

• Promote U.S. leadership in space exploration and innovation
• Increase awareness of NASA’s Artemis Program and U.S. space ecosystem
• Strengthen understanding of U.S. innovation and entrepreneurship models
• Highlight U.S. private sector leadership in space industry development
• Encourage engagement with U.S. companies and technologies
• Support trusted technologies including AI, engineering, and secure space systems
• Build long-term Morocco–U.S. cooperation in space and technology sectors

Key Focus Areas

The initiative focuses on:

• Space exploration and the lunar economy
• Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education
• Entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems
• Commercial space industry engagement
• Artificial intelligence and advanced engineering
• Secure and trusted technology systems
• Workforce alignment for emerging space industries

Programme Structure

The program is designed as an 18-month implementation cycle and includes:

• Nationwide engagement activities across Morocco
• Workshops, training sessions, and innovation events
• Hands-on project development experiences
• Exposure to U.S. space industry models and technologies
• Engagement with entrepreneurs, students, and STEM professionals
• Press and social media outreach campaigns
• 5–8 major program activities over the project duration

Target Participants

The program is designed for:

• Students
• Entrepreneurs
• STEM practitioners
• Early-career professionals
• Youth aged 15–35 years

Total expected reach:

• 800–1000 direct participants

Key Programme Components

Space Industry Exposure

Participants will:

• Learn about NASA’s Artemis Program
• Explore U.S. commercial space industry models
• Understand global space supply chains
• Engage with U.S. companies and technologies
• Study innovation pathways in aerospace and engineering

Commercial Diplomacy

The program emphasizes:

• Strengthening ties between Morocco and U.S. space industries
• Showcasing American technological leadership
• Encouraging international collaboration with U.S. firms
• Demonstrating innovation-driven economic partnerships

Skills Development

Participants will gain:

• Practical exposure to space economy applications
• Innovation and entrepreneurship skills
• Awareness of aerospace technologies
• Experience in applied STEM projects

Funding Details

• Total funding range: $150,000 – $200,000
• Estimated total program budget: up to $200,000
• Eligible costs include:
  • Participant travel and accommodation
  • Event and workshop logistics
  • Speaker honoraria
  • Outreach and communication campaigns
  • Educational materials and equipment for activities
  • Monitoring and evaluation systems

Monitoring and Evaluation Requirements

Applicants must include a strong M&E framework:

• Measurement of participant engagement
• Assessment of awareness of U.S. leadership in space and technology
• Tracking number of completed activities and outputs
• Pre- and post-program surveys required
• Minimum 70% of participants must report increased awareness of U.S. leadership
• Reporting on program outcomes and impact

Eligible Applicants

Applicants must demonstrate ability to:

• Manage multi-phase national programs
• Implement public diplomacy initiatives
• Deliver youth-focused engagement activities
• Coordinate large-scale workshops and events
• Ensure compliance with U.S. government regulations

Eligible implementers may include:

• Educational organizations
• Non-profits
• Institutions with public diplomacy experience
• Program delivery partners capable of national coordination

Evaluation Criteria

Applications are assessed based on:

• Alignment with U.S. space diplomacy objectives
• Strength of youth engagement strategy
• Quality of implementation plan
• Feasibility of national rollout
• Monitoring and evaluation framework
• Ability to generate measurable impact
• Outreach and visibility strategy

Ineligible Activities

The program does NOT fund:

• Construction activities
• Major equipment purchases unrelated to program delivery
• Pure academic or research-only projects
• Activities without a public diplomacy component

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Lack of clear public diplomacy focus
• Weak engagement strategy for youth audiences
• Underdeveloped monitoring and evaluation plans
• Overemphasis on academic research instead of outreach
• Insufficient national implementation capacity
• Missing alignment with U.S. innovation and space diplomacy goals

Tips for a Strong Application

To improve success chances:

• Clearly link activities to U.S. space leadership themes
• Design engaging, hands-on youth programs
• Integrate entrepreneurship and innovation components
• Include strong data-driven M&E framework
• Ensure clear outreach and media strategy
• Demonstrate capacity for nationwide execution
• Highlight partnerships with STEM and innovation actors

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is Moonshot: Artemis Edition?
  • It is an 18-month public diplomacy program focused on U.S. space leadership
  • It engages Moroccan youth in STEM, entrepreneurship, and space innovation
  • It builds awareness of NASA’s Artemis Program and U.S. space industry
• Who can participate?
  • Youth aged 15–35
  • Students, entrepreneurs, STEM professionals, and early-career individuals
  • Approximately 800–1000 participants will be engaged
• What is the funding amount?
  • Between $150,000 and $200,000 per project
  • Covers program delivery, events, outreach, and evaluation
• What activities are included?
  • Workshops, training sessions, and hands-on innovation projects
  • Space industry exposure and commercial diplomacy engagement
  • Outreach campaigns and media activities
• What is required in monitoring and evaluation?
  • Participant surveys before and after the program
  • Measurement of awareness of U.S. leadership in space
  • Tracking of activity completion and engagement metrics
• What activities are not allowed?
  • Construction projects
  • Major unrelated equipment purchases
  • Pure research or academic-only projects without outreach

Conclusion

The Moonshot: Artemis Edition is a large-scale public diplomacy initiative that connects Moroccan youth with U.S. space innovation ecosystems. By combining STEM engagement, entrepreneurship training, and commercial diplomacy, it aims to strengthen international collaboration and build awareness of U.S. leadership in the global space economy.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.