U.S.-ROK Alliance on Shipbuilding and Maritime Cooperation | PD SEOUL FY25 09

Opportunity Information: Apply for PD SEOUL FY25 09

The U.S.-ROK Alliance on Shipbuilding and Maritime Cooperation (Funding Opportunity Number PD-SEOUL-FY25-09) is a U.S. Mission to South Korea public diplomacy grant funded with FY25 Smith-Mundt Public Diplomacy funds (CFDA 19.040). It offers up to $100,000 total funding, with an award ceiling of $100,000 and an expectation of one award, though the notice notes funding availability and some award details could change before finalization. Applications are due by Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Korea time (GMT+9), and all application materials must be submitted by email to SeoulPDGrants@state.gov. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which signals that the U.S. Embassy in Seoul plans to stay actively involved in shaping and overseeing the program rather than simply issuing a hands-off grant.

At its core, the opportunity is designed to deepen U.S.-Korea collaboration in shipbuilding and the broader maritime sector by convening a structured, expert-driven dialogue that produces practical outputs. The program’s focus areas include supply chain vulnerabilities (including resilience and potential chokepoints), regulatory harmonization (reducing friction across standards and compliance regimes), market demand dynamics (where future demand is headed and what it means for both countries), bilateral investment opportunities (where partnerships and capital could realistically flow), and technical advancements (innovation trends that affect competitiveness and security). The intent is not only to share ideas, but to consolidate expertise into actionable recommendations that can inform U.S. and Korean policy decisions, strengthen economic security, and identify concrete areas for deeper bilateral cooperation and investment.

The main program model centers on establishing research working groups made up of experts drawn from academia, government, industry, and think tanks. These groups are expected to meet monthly and to run a steady cadence of internal discussions, lectures, workshops, and seminars. Activities are envisioned to take place in both the Republic of Korea and the United States, reinforcing the “alliance” framing and ensuring the work is not Korea-only in participation or perspective. A key capstone deliverable is an international conference in Korea intended to share findings widely and connect stakeholders from both countries. In addition, the program includes a U.S.-ROK workshop hosted in the United States to bring U.S. and Korean experts together in person, pressure-test ideas, and refine recommendations into implementable next steps. Written reporting is also a required component, with the expectation that the project will produce synthesized, policy-relevant outputs rather than limiting results to event proceedings.

Eligibility is limited to Republic of Korea organizations only. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations (such as think tanks and civil society/NGOs), public or private educational institutions, and certain public international organizations and governmental institutions. While only ROK organizations may apply, proposals must incorporate a clear American element. In practical terms, applicants are expected to build the project around meaningful engagement with U.S. experts, organizations, or institutions, and to show how that U.S. connection will be integrated into planning, programming, and outputs rather than added superficially. The notice also indicates that applicants should clearly describe prior experience running comparable programs that span both the ROK and the United States, which suggests reviewers will prioritize proven capacity to manage cross-border logistics, partnerships, and substantive convenings.

Because this is a cooperative agreement, the U.S. Embassy in Seoul will have substantial involvement throughout planning and implementation. The Embassy will provide input on the program’s structure and content, review and approve participant selection criteria and recruitment materials, and approve the final participant list. The Embassy will also monitor alignment with U.S. public diplomacy objectives and broader Embassy priorities, so competitive proposals should be prepared for iterative coordination and should demonstrate a clear strategy for how convenings and publications support alliance cooperation and public diplomacy outcomes.

In summary, this opportunity funds a year-like (or multi-month) structured expert engagement platform focused on shipbuilding and maritime cooperation between the United States and the Republic of Korea, combining recurring working-group meetings, research and analysis, a U.S.-based workshop, a Korea-based international conference, and written policy recommendations. The single award of up to $100,000 is aimed at an ROK-based organization that can credibly convene top-tier bilateral expertise, manage programming across two countries, and produce practical, policy-facing outputs under close coordination with the U.S. Embassy in Seoul.

• The U.S. Mission to South Korea in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S.-ROK Alliance on Shipbuilding and Maritime Cooperation" 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 2025-08-13.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-09-02. (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 $100,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for PD SEOUL FY25 09

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