Conference “Opportunities for U.S.-Indian Higher Education STEM Collaboration” | M NOFO 19 100

Opportunity Information: Apply for M NOFO 19 100

The Department of State, U.S. Mission to India announced a discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number M NOFO 19 100; CFDA 19.040) to support a two-day conference titled "Opportunities for U.S.-Indian Higher Education STEM Collaboration." The overall purpose is to strengthen and expand institutional partnerships between universities in the United States and India, with a clear emphasis on STEM-focused collaboration that can lead to sustained, practical cooperation rather than one-off meetings. The program is structured to bring together higher education stakeholders to identify partnership models, share workable approaches, and create direct pathways for institutions to initiate or deepen joint activities.

The conference content is designed around several priority collaboration areas. These include student and faculty exchanges that promote mobility and cross-cultural academic experience; joint research efforts that leverage complementary expertise and facilities; capacity-building initiatives that help institutions develop stronger teaching, research, or administrative systems in STEM fields; and the development of joint academic programs, which may include collaborative curricula, dual or joint degree concepts, or other co-developed training pathways aligned with workforce and research needs. By framing the conference around these themes, the grant aims to spotlight partnership types that are commonly used in successful international higher education cooperation and that can be scaled after the event.

One day of the event is specifically devoted to networking and partnership-building, emphasizing structured opportunities for participants to meet, compare institutional priorities, and explore concrete next steps. This day is also meant to be reinforced through a joint information session that covers practical guidance and enabling conditions for collaboration. Topics noted in the announcement include best practices for international education cooperation, an overview of relevant government policies affecting international higher education partnerships in both the United States and India, and case studies demonstrating successful U.S.-India university collaborations. In other words, the conference is expected to combine relationship-building with policy and operational context so that participants leave with both connections and a clearer understanding of how to implement partnerships.

A second day is oriented toward on-the-ground exposure and relationship development in Mumbai. During this day, visiting U.S. university representatives would have the opportunity to tour selected campuses of Mumbai colleges affiliated with the University of Mumbai, particularly those that already maintain international partnerships. This campus-visit component is intended to move discussions from general interest to institution-specific exploration, allowing U.S. participants to see facilities, meet counterparts, and better assess where collaborations could realistically be launched or expanded.

In terms of eligibility, the opportunity is open to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and eligible nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). The grant uses a standard grant funding instrument under the education activity category. The anticipated scale is modest and targeted: the award ceiling is $22,500, and the agency expected to make one award. The opportunity was created on December 21, 2018, with an original closing date of February 20, 2019, indicating it was a time-bound competition aimed at selecting a single organizer to plan and deliver the conference.

Overall, this grant opportunity centers on convening and facilitation: selecting one lead recipient to design a focused U.S.-India STEM higher education collaboration conference that combines curated learning sessions, direct networking, and site visits to Mumbai-area institutions. The intended outcome is not just discussion, but stronger institutional linkages and a clearer pipeline for exchanges, joint research, capacity-building, and joint STEM academic programs between U.S. and Indian universities.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to India in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Conference “Opportunities for U.S.-Indian Higher Education STEM Collaboration”" 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 Dec 21, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 20, 2019. (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 $22,500.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for M NOFO 19 100

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