Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0008823
The grant opportunity titled "Elevating Women Science and Technology Entrepreneurs and Women-Focused Startups in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Member Economies" is a U.S. Department of State funding announcement designed to advance U.S. economic security priorities by expanding support for women-led innovation and entrepreneurship across selected APEC economies. It sits under the Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) initiative, a longstanding program that aims to strengthen the skills, networks, and market readiness of early-stage science and technology innovators in low- and middle-income countries, while also improving the broader innovation ecosystems that help startups form, grow, and attract investment. In practical terms, the opportunity is focused on enabling women science and technology entrepreneurs and boosting startups that are either led by women or explicitly designed to benefit women, with an emphasis on building capacity that translates into real business growth and resilience.
This is a discretionary funding opportunity administered by the Department of State, specifically the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (often associated with international science, technology, innovation, and research cooperation). The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically means the awardee should expect substantial involvement from the U.S. government during the project period, such as collaboration on program design, approvals for key activities, and coordination on deliverables. The activity category is "Science and Technology and other Research and Development," and it is associated with CFDA number 19.017, which is commonly used for State Department public diplomacy and exchange-related programming, including initiatives that combine training, mentoring, partnerships, and ecosystem development.
The program targets countries identified as GIST priorities for this award: Chile, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. The country list signals where the implementing organization would likely be expected to recruit participants, run programming, and build partnerships with local accelerators, universities, investors, industry, and government stakeholders. The broader intent is not only to help individual entrepreneurs succeed, but also to strengthen the surrounding support structures that determine whether women founders can access mentorship, technical expertise, markets, and financing at the same rate as others. By emphasizing women’s participation in science and technology entrepreneurship, the opportunity aligns with U.S. policy goals laid out in the National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality, which prioritizes reducing structural barriers and expanding economic opportunity for women.
From a funding standpoint, the announcement (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0008823) indicates an anticipated single award, with an award ceiling of $345,625. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of entity types may apply, subject to any additional conditions described in the full announcement. The opportunity was created on April 6, 2022, with an original closing date of May 19, 2022, which places it within a defined competition window rather than an open rolling solicitation. Overall, the grant is structured to select one implementing partner capable of designing and delivering a high-impact, regionally relevant program that elevates women entrepreneurs in STEM-related sectors and supports women-focused startups, while reinforcing local innovation ecosystems in the specified APEC member economies.Apply for SFOP0008823
- The Department of State, Bureau of Oceans - Int. Environmental - Scientific in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Elevating Women Science and Technology Entrepreneurs and Women-Focused Startups in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Member Economies" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.017.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 06, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 19, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $345,625.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Elevating Women Science and Technology Entrepreneurs and Women-Focused Startups in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Member Economies."
2) Who is offering and administering this funding opportunity?
This is a U.S. Department of State funding announcement. It is administered by the Department of State's Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.
3) What initiative is this opportunity part of?
The opportunity sits under the Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) initiative, which focuses on strengthening skills, networks, and market readiness for early-stage science and technology innovators and improving innovation ecosystems.
4) What is the main purpose of the program?
The program is designed to advance U.S. economic security priorities by expanding support for women-led innovation and entrepreneurship across selected APEC economies. In practical terms, it aims to enable women science and technology entrepreneurs and support startups that are led by women or intentionally designed to benefit women, with an emphasis on capacity-building that leads to real business growth and resilience.
5) What types of founders and startups are intended to benefit?
The opportunity emphasizes women science and technology entrepreneurs, along with startups that are either led by women or explicitly designed to benefit women ("women-focused" startups).
6) What kinds of sectors or activities does the opportunity focus on?
The activity category is listed as "Science and Technology and other Research and Development." The overall framing indicates a focus on science and technology entrepreneurship and innovation-related programming.
7) What is the funding instrument, and what does it imply?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement. This typically implies substantial involvement by the U.S. government during the project period, such as collaboration on program design, approvals for key activities, and coordination on deliverables.
8) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 19.017.
9) Which countries are targeted for recruitment and program delivery?
The announcement identifies these GIST priority countries for this award: Chile, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
10) Does the opportunity focus only on individual entrepreneurs, or also on ecosystems?
It is intended to do both. The description highlights support for individual entrepreneurs and startups, while also aiming to strengthen the surrounding innovation ecosystems that affect access to mentorship, technical expertise, markets, and financing for women founders.
11) What kinds of partnerships or stakeholders are referenced?
The opportunity notes that the implementing organization would likely be expected to build partnerships with local accelerators, universities, investors, industry, and government stakeholders in the targeted economies.
12) How does this opportunity connect to U.S. policy priorities?
The emphasis on women's participation in science and technology entrepreneurship aligns with U.S. policy goals described in the National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality, including reducing structural barriers and expanding economic opportunity for women.
13) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is SFOP0008823.
14) How many awards are anticipated?
The announcement indicates an anticipated single award.
15) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $345,625.
16) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of entity types may apply, subject to any additional conditions described in the full announcement.
17) Is this a rolling opportunity or tied to a specific competition window?
The opportunity is tied to a specific competition window. It was created on April 6, 2022, with an original closing date of May 19, 2022.
18) What is the expected role of the selected implementer?
The grant is structured to select one implementing partner capable of designing and delivering a high-impact, regionally relevant program that elevates women entrepreneurs in STEM-related sectors and supports women-focused startups, while reinforcing local innovation ecosystems in the specified APEC member economies.
19) What outcomes does the opportunity emphasize?
Based on the description, the emphasis is on capacity-building that translates into practical outcomes such as improved market readiness, stronger networks, better access to mentorship and financing, and measurable business growth and resilience for women-led and women-focused startups.
20) Does the opportunity specify that it is discretionary funding?
Yes. The description states this is a discretionary funding opportunity administered by the Department of State.
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