The U.S. Department of State’s Embassy in Tashkent announces an open competition to implement a program to the 2026 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2026) for alumni of U.S. government exchange programs to strengthen economic ties between the United States and Uzbekistan. This program advances U.S. foreign policy by positioning America as the global leader in innovation while promoting U.S.-Uzbekistani business connections. The program goal is to build economic connections through alumni-led projects that promote America as a global engine of innovation and technological leadership. Projects must incorporate Freedom 250 themes as part of America’s 250th Anniversary. Teams of at least two exchange program alumni may apply. Priority themes for the program are Business, Energy and Trade; STEM, AI and Innovation; or Education, Culture, Sports and Tourism. Projects should attract foreign investment and tourism into America while demonstrating benefits of U.S. partnerships through activities like STEM workshops, innovation hackathons, cultural festivals, or promotion of major U.S.-hosted events. 

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