AI Pathways To The Future
Contract Overview
Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.
AI Contract Overview
The U.S. Department of State’s U.S. Mission to Indonesia is soliciting proposals for the AI Pathways to the Future program, a cooperative agreement designed to strengthen U.S.-Indonesia collaboration in artificial intelligence education, research, and innovation. The initiative features two core components: a multi-day AI Pathways Workshop in November 2026, bringing together U.S. and Indonesian higher education institutions, technology companies, and alumni of U.S. government exchange programs to engage students and faculty in discussions on AI career pathways and institutional development; and a five-month AI Innovation Mentorship Challenge, where Indonesian professors and high-performing students will develop AI-powered solutions to pressing Jakarta infrastructure challenges such as waste management, flooding, traffic congestion, and urban planning, culminating in a public presentation to an expert panel. The program targets Indonesian university students, faculty, policymakers, STEM high school students, and U.S. exchange alumni, with EducationUSA advisers integrated throughout to provide guidance on U.S. graduate opportunities and pathways. Applicants must propose a detailed plan that includes stakeholder recruitment, logistics for workshops and mentorship, technical support, communications, and an M&E framework with clear metrics for success, including engaging at least 100 Indonesian university students, facilitating 30 applications to U.S. AI programs, and enabling at least two formal collaboration initiatives between U.S. and Indonesian institutions. Proposals must be submitted via email to jakartapasgrants@state.gov by August 9, 2026, and are subject to strict eligibility requirements, including a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov), compliance with 2 CFR 25, 170, 175, 182, 183, 600, and 200, and adherence to U.S. Department of State branding guidelines, which require clear identification of U.S. Government funding in all materials. A maximum 8-page narrative proposal is required, with a mandatory one-page summary, and all documents must be in English and budgeted in U.S. dollars. Proposals will be evaluated on a 100-point scale across six weighted criteria: program idea and feasibility (30 points), institutional capacity (25 points), project planning and objectives (20 points), budget justifiability (10 points), monitoring and evaluation plan (10 points), and sustainability (5 points). Applicants must also submit required forms (SF
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Organization & Contact Information
Full Description
The U.S. Department of State’s Embassy Jakarta announces an open competition to implement the AI Pathways to the Future program, a comprehensive initiative designed to strengthen U.S.-Indonesia partnerships in artificial intelligence education, research, and innovation.
Promoting AI innovation and security is a top priority of the United States government, including in its foreign policy. By deepening U.S. - Indonesia bilateral educational cooperation in the field of AI, Indonesia’s future AI innovators will build critical relationships with American technology, standards, and thought, thus strengthening pathways to long term collaborations and AI-ready workforces to boost unparalleled economic growth.
The program consists of two interconnected components:
Component 1: AI Pathways Workshop (Fall 2026)
A multi-day workshop bringing together representatives from 2-3 U.S. higher education institutions (HEIs) with AI research hubs, 3-4 Indonesian universities exploring AI research partnerships, 1-2 U.S. technology companies, and AI-focused alumni of U.S. government exchange programs and U.S. universities. The workshop will engage Indonesian college students and faculty in discussions about AI innovation career pathways, and institutional development.
Component 2: Five-Month AI Innovation Mentorship Challenge
Following the workshop, U.S. professors will launch mentoring relationships with Indonesian professors and high-performing students who will compete to build AI-powered solutions addressing pressing Jakarta infrastructure challenges such as waste management, flooding, traffic congestion, or urban planning. The challenge culminates in project presentations to an expert panel, with the winning solution receiving a certificate and being promoted through social media and press engagement.
Target Audiences:
- Indonesian university students interested in AI and technology careers
- Indonesian university faculty and administrators developing AI programs
- Indonesian education and AI policymakers
- STEM-focused high school students
- Alumni of U.S. Government exchange programs with AI expertise
Expected Outcomes:
- Strengthened partnerships between U.S. and Indonesian higher education institutions in AI research.
- Increased Indonesian student interest in U.S. graduate programs in AI and related fields.
- Development of practical AI solutions to Indonesian infrastructure challenges.
- Enhanced understanding of U.S. opportunities in AI higher education and employment.
- Exploration of scholarship opportunities and potential Jakarta-based innovation hub development.
- EducationUSA advisers will participate throughout the program, providing information on pathways to U.S. study for students interested in graduate programs, conducting workshops, and offering one-to-one advising for program participants.