Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS SAU 2605 PD
The U.S.-Saudi AI Research Commercialization Accelerator Program (ReCAP) is a U.S. Embassy Riyadh Public Diplomacy Section grant opportunity that funds one organization to design and run a year-long (12-month) accelerator focused on turning Saudi-developed artificial intelligence research and technologies into commercially viable products and ventures, while tightly linking those Saudi innovators to U.S. technology, investment, and commercialization networks. The core idea is not just technical advancement, but structured commercialization support: sourcing promising AI innovations in Saudi Arabia, selecting the best candidates, and then moving them through practical, U.S.-led programming that helps teams validate markets, refine business models, strengthen go-to-market strategies, and become ready for partnerships and investment.
The program is structured around a pipeline. First, the implementer will identify and evaluate roughly 20 to 30 AI technologies developed in Saudi Arabia. From that initial pool, about 10 of the most promising technologies are expected to be advanced into more intensive support. That support includes applied commercialization programming and Innovation Labs led with a U.S. commercialization perspective, meaning participants will be exposed to approaches commonly used in the American innovation ecosystem such as customer discovery, product-market fit testing, regulatory and ethics considerations where relevant, intellectual property positioning, fundraising readiness, and building relationships with mentors and industry partners. A major component is an intensive study tour in the United States, designed to connect the selected participants directly with the American AI ecosystem, including potential collaborators, accelerators, universities, companies, investors, and other commercialization enablers. The capstone event is a high-level U.S.-Saudi AI Research Commercialization Summit, which serves as a culminating convening point to showcase progress, deepen bilateral networks, and create a platform for partnerships, investment conversations, and longer-term collaboration.
ReCAP is explicitly tied to U.S. foreign policy and public diplomacy goals. Beyond supporting innovation, the program is meant to position the United States as Saudi Arabia’s preferred partner for AI innovation and commercialization. In practical terms, that means building durable, people-to-people and institution-to-institution relationships between Saudi AI researchers and founders on one side and U.S. technology leaders, investors, commercialization experts, and innovation hubs on the other. The expected outcome is a stronger pipeline of Saudi AI solutions that are better prepared for commercialization and a lasting set of cross-border relationships that can continue after the program ends.
This is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement, which typically means the U.S. government anticipates an active partnership with the awardee during implementation rather than a hands-off grant. The opportunity is issued under Funding Opportunity Number DOS SAU 2605 PD, with an award ceiling of $900,000. Only one award is expected, so the selected implementing organization will be responsible for the full program design and delivery, including participant sourcing and selection processes, curriculum and Innovation Lab design, coordination of the U.S. study tour, and planning and execution of the final summit.
Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations (including NGOs and civil society organizations), public and private educational institutions, public international organizations, and governmental institutions. The opportunity is posted by the U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia, created on 2026-08-31, with an original application closing date of 2026-09-14. The funding activity category is listed as “Other,” and the CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 19.040.Apply for DOS SAU 2605 PD
- The U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S-Saudi AI Research Commercialization Accelerator Program (ReCAP)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-08-31.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-09-14. (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 $900,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the U.S.-Saudi AI Research Commercialization Accelerator Program (ReCAP)?
ReCAP is a U.S. Embassy Riyadh Public Diplomacy Section grant opportunity to fund one organization to design and run a 12-month accelerator program focused on turning Saudi-developed artificial intelligence research and technologies into commercially viable products and ventures, while connecting Saudi innovators to U.S. technology, investment, and commercialization networks.
What is the primary goal of ReCAP?
The primary goal is structured commercialization support for Saudi AI innovations, not just technical advancement. The program is intended to help selected teams validate markets, refine business models, strengthen go-to-market strategies, and become ready for partnerships and investment, with a strong U.S.-led commercialization perspective.
Who is offering this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia through the U.S. Embassy Riyadh Public Diplomacy Section.
What type of funding instrument is used for this award?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement, which generally means the U.S. government anticipates active partnership with the awardee during implementation rather than a purely hands-off grant.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DOS SAU 2605 PD.
What is the award ceiling (maximum funding amount)?
The award ceiling is $900,000.
How many awards are expected to be made?
Only one award is expected. The selected organization will be responsible for designing and delivering the full program.
How long is the accelerator program expected to run?
The accelerator is expected to run for one year (12 months).
What is the overall program structure?
The program is structured as a pipeline: the implementer identifies and evaluates approximately 20 to 30 Saudi-developed AI technologies, then advances about 10 of the most promising into more intensive commercialization support, including U.S.-led programming, a U.S. study tour, and a culminating U.S.-Saudi AI Research Commercialization Summit.
How many AI technologies will be identified and evaluated at the start of the program?
The implementer is expected to identify and evaluate roughly 20 to 30 AI technologies developed in Saudi Arabia.
How many technologies are expected to receive intensive support?
From the initial pool, about 10 of the most promising technologies are expected to be advanced into more intensive support.
What kinds of commercialization topics are expected to be covered in the programming?
The programming is described as applied commercialization support led with a U.S. commercialization perspective. Areas referenced include customer discovery, product-market fit testing, regulatory and ethics considerations where relevant, intellectual property positioning, fundraising readiness, and building relationships with mentors and industry partners.
What are the Innovation Labs in this program?
Innovation Labs are part of the applied commercialization programming and are expected to be led with a U.S. commercialization perspective, exposing participants to approaches commonly used in the American innovation ecosystem.
Is there an in-person component in the United States?
Yes. A major component is an intensive study tour in the United States designed to connect selected participants directly with the American AI ecosystem, including potential collaborators, accelerators, universities, companies, investors, and other commercialization enablers.
What is the purpose of the U.S. study tour?
The purpose is to connect selected Saudi participants with U.S. AI ecosystem stakeholders and enable relationship-building that supports commercialization, partnerships, and investment readiness.
What is the capstone event for ReCAP?
The capstone is a high-level U.S.-Saudi AI Research Commercialization Summit intended to showcase progress, deepen bilateral networks, and create a platform for partnerships, investment conversations, and longer-term collaboration.
What responsibilities will the selected implementing organization have?
The selected organization is expected to handle full program design and delivery, including participant sourcing and selection processes, curriculum and Innovation Lab design, coordination of the U.S. study tour, and planning and execution of the final summit.
Where are the AI innovations expected to come from?
The program focuses on sourcing promising AI innovations developed in Saudi Arabia.
What kinds of outcomes is ReCAP aiming to achieve?
Expected outcomes include a stronger pipeline of Saudi AI solutions better prepared for commercialization and a lasting set of cross-border relationships between Saudi innovators and U.S. technology leaders, investors, commercialization experts, and innovation hubs that can continue after the program ends.
How does ReCAP relate to U.S. foreign policy and public diplomacy goals?
ReCAP is explicitly tied to U.S. foreign policy and public diplomacy goals, aiming to position the United States as Saudi Arabia's preferred partner for AI innovation and commercialization by building durable people-to-people and institution-to-institution relationships.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations (including NGOs and civil society organizations), public and private educational institutions, public international organizations, and governmental institutions.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 19.040.
What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The funding activity category is listed as "Other."
When was this opportunity created (posted)?
The opportunity was created on 2026-08-31.
What is the application closing date?
The original application closing date is 2026-09-14.
Is this a grant for multiple organizations to run separate accelerators?
No. Only one award is expected, meaning one implementing organization will be selected to run the accelerator and deliver all major components.
Does the program focus only on research, or on commercialization?
The program is centered on commercialization: moving Saudi-developed AI research and technologies toward commercially viable products and ventures through practical programming, mentorship connections, market validation, and investment and partnership readiness.
What role do U.S. networks play in the program?
U.S. networks are a central element. The program is designed to tightly link Saudi innovators to U.S. technology, investment, and commercialization networks through U.S.-led programming and direct exposure via the study tour and summit.
What does "cooperative agreement" imply for program implementation?
As described, a cooperative agreement typically implies an active partnership with the U.S. government during implementation, rather than a model where the awardee operates entirely independently.
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