Call for Proposals: Smart Cities Business Innovation Fund 2.0

Deadline: 15 February 2025

The U.S. Department of State, through its U.S.-ASEAN Smart Cities Partnership (USASCP), is excited to announce the launch of Smart Cities Business Innovation Fund 2.0 designed for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in ASEAN member states that are pioneering innovative, carbon neutral solutions to urban challenges.

In an effort to promote ASEAN-Singapore business partnerships, interested applicants can opt to apply to the fund with a Singapore-based partner. Singapore partners are eligible to receive supplemental funding from Enterprise Singapore, a government agency which champions enterprise development under Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, to scale up partnership efforts and impact by increasing overall project funding.

ASEAN entities can apply to the fund on their own under Track 1 or apply to the fund in partnership with a Singaporean company under Track 2.

Topics

Examples of topics include, but are not limited to:
- Nature-based solutions, (e.g., life sciences, biotech, ecosystem-based adaptation, green infrastructure, etc.).
- Smart sustainable cities development, AI, and digital tools.
- Sustainable urban solutions (e.g., waste management, waste valorization/upcycling, housing, health, transportation, and mobility) .
- Renewable energy.
- Negative emissions technologies.
- Decentralized solutions.
- Disaster risk reduction and resilience.
- Social business.

Funding Information

Anticipated award amount: US $200,000.00-$400,000.00.
Length of performance period: 24 to 36 months.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible applicants for the application are ASEAN entities, a legally registered ASEAN company, NGO, and/or university in an ASEAN Member State (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam) with at least 51% ASEAN ownership.
Track 1
- City governments are eligible to join the project application and provide problem statements or in-kind support but will not be funded by SEI. The target audience for project implementation will be ASEAN grant recipients.
- Applicants can apply individually or with additional ASEAN partners to form a consortium.
- U.S. companies and U.S. entities operating in ASEAN and/or with interests in the region are eligible to join the project application and provide problem statements or in-kind support but will not be funded by SEI.
Track 2
- For ASEAN entities
  - Applicants can apply as a singular entity in partnership with a Singaporean company or they can apply as a consortium in partnership with a Singaporean company.
  - City governments can join the project application and provide problem statements or in-kind support but will not be funded by EnterpriseSG or SEI. The target audience for project implementation will be ASEAN grant recipients.
  - The following ASEAN countries are eligible to apply:
    - Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam
    - Singapore.
- For Singapore companies The Singapore partner must meet all the following criteria:
  - be a business entity that is registered and physically present and operates in Singapore,
  - more than or equal to 30% local equity held directly or indirectly by Singaporean(s)/Singapore PR(s), determined by the ultimate individual ownership, and
  - be financially able to see the project through to completion for the specified period of performance.
- For U.S. companies and entities (universities, NGOs)
  - U.S. companies and U.S. entities operating in ASEAN and/or with interests in the region are encouraged join the project application with an eligible ASEAN entity through in-kind support but will not receive funding from SEI.