University-led Networks for Innovation, Technology, and Expertise (UNITE)
This grant funds a U.S. academic partner to manage university-industry teams creating solutions for Saudi workforce gaps in tech sectors, with up to $25,000 per project and required cost-sharing.
Funder: U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia
Due Dates: September 14, 2026: Application deadline
Funding Amounts: Up to $150,000 total for one award (18-month period); project teams may receive up to $25,000 each in seed funding.
Summary: Supports U.S.-Saudi university-industry partnerships to address Saudi workforce and development gaps in strategic sectors through applied projects and technical deliverables.
Key Information: 1:1 institutional match required from each project team member; only one U.S. academic institution will be awarded as prime recipient.
Description
This opportunity from the U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia funds a single U.S. academic institution to administer the University-led Networks for Innovation, Technology, and Expertise (UNITE) program. The goal is to create and manage a portfolio of four to five applied project teams, each consisting of a U.S. university, a Saudi university or institution, and a U.S. company or technical partner. These teams will address specific workforce and development challenges in Saudi Arabia, focusing on sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, critical minerals, cybersecurity, emerging technologies, and workforce development.
Each project team is expected to produce a U.S.-linked deliverable—such as a curriculum, technical roadmap, or standards brief—that fosters long-term U.S.-Saudi collaboration and investment. The program emphasizes concrete outcomes, sustainability, and institutional commitment, with a requirement for matching contributions from all team members.
