International Affairs
International cooperation can accelerate ARPA-H's mission
ARPA-H seeks to catalyze the U.S. and global innovation ecosystem in the pursuit of novel solutions to the most pressing challenges in human health and health care.
Opportunities for International Partners
ARPA-H is accelerating international collaborations that will enhance the impact of agency’s initiatives on a global scale and advance U.S. leadership in science, technology, and innovation.
Propose to become a performer or team member on an ARPA-H program
Submit your high-potential, high-impact idea to one of the Mission Office-specific Innovative Solutions Openings (ISO)
Apply to become an international spoke in ARPANET-H
Become a transition partner to translate ARPA-H solutions to foreign markets and health care systems
ARPA-H International Affairs in Action
Through international engagements and trips overseas, ARPA-H explores innovation happening around the world and identifies collaboration opportunities to accelerate better health outcomes.
Health and life science innovation in the UK
For our Director’s first international trip, ARPA-H traveled to the United Kingdom to meet with policy officials, funders, and the private-sector to learn more about the UK’s health, life sciences, and biosecurity priorities, and how their national health system is using data to improve care across England. The delegation also visited universities to share the ARPA-H’s mission and the importance of international research cooperation to amplify the agency’s efforts. ARPA-H Director Renee Wegrzyn participated in a fireside chat at Imperial College London (pictured). Read more about the visit.
Visiting the Netherlands and Belgium
ARPA-H traveled to the Netherlands and Belgium to learn about health innovations taking place, in everything from women’s health to biomanufacturing, from preventative medicine to biotechnology. While in Amsterdam, several ARPA-H representatives participated in the HLTH Europe conference, including Deputy Director Susan Monarez who spoke on a panel about health equity.
Inaugural U.S.-India Cancer Moonshot Dialogue
ARPA-H Director of International Affairs Megan Frisk represented ARPA-H at the first-ever U.S.-India Cancer Moonshot Dialogue in New Delhi, India. ARPA-H and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services colleagues also met with government counterparts, research institutions, non-governmental organizations, and start-ups in New Delhi and Bangalore to learn about the latest innovations across genomics, antimicrobial resistance, cancer, cell and gene therapy, and biomanufacturing.
Exploring innovations across Singapore
ARPA-H Director Renee Wegrzyn and several program and international team members traveled to Singapore to meet with policy makers and industry innovators in women’s health, biomanufacturing, biosurveillance, digital health security, synthetic biology, and more. The Director’s first trip to Asia also included fireside chat at the National University Singapore and a women’s health panel discussion at the Milken Institute’s Asia Summit.
Understanding digital health in Denmark
On a trip to Copenhagen, ARPA-H explored Denmark’s public-private collaborations advancing cutting-edge research in digital health, proactive health, antimicrobial resistance, and care for non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and mental health. ARPA-H Director Renee Wegrzyn attended the Tour de Health conference where she discussed ARPA-H's role in driving global health outcomes and fostering international collaboration (pictured). She was also interviewed by Danish outlet Mondag Morgen on ARPA-H’s high-risk, high-reward model.
photo credit: Healthcare Denmark
Precision medicine and synthetic biology at the World Economic Forum
ARPA-H Director of International Affairs Megan Frisk traveled to Dubai to participate in the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of the Global Future Councils where she presented in a Betazone on how the agency’s model can speed up innovation in precision medicine (pictured). ARPA-H also met with local leaders in health innovation and care, learning more about the UAE's priorities in health R&D, and in particular how Dubai is working to integrate clinical care, academia, and industry development for improving patient experience and outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Want to learn more? Contact the ARPA-H Division of International Affairs at international@arpa-h.gov.
Yes. Our world is interconnected, and the most challenging health problems cannot be solved by any one country.
Yes. Each solicitation defines eligibility and requirements for non-U.S. persons and non-U.S. entities to participate. Please see the solicitations for detailed instructions.
Foreign entities are invited to submit proposals for consideration so long as participants agree to comply with federal laws and policies applicable to ARPA-H funding agreements. In no case will awards be made to entities organized under the laws of a covered foreign country* or entities suspended or debarred from business with the U.S. Government.
*defined in the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. § 3059)] as Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China.
The Division of International Affairs at ARPA-H is responsible for promoting and managing international collaborations, partnerships, and initiatives that advance the agency's mission of driving innovation in biomedical research. The Division of International Affairs formulates and executes ARPA-H's global collaboration strategy by identifying key international stakeholders, potential partners, and research opportunities that align with the agency's mission and enhance the impact of ARPA-H's initiatives on a global scale.
Eligibility criteria for international funding opportunities vary. ARPA-H welcomes applications from qualified international researchers, institutions, and organizations. Specific eligibility criteria, including qualifications and project scopes, are detailed in the guidelines accompanying each program solicitation on SAM.gov. In general, like U.S. participants, international partners can participate in ARPA-H research contracts as either a “prime organization” or on a team as a “subcontractor.” Interested international partners may sign up on “teaming” pages on our website – linked from each program description page – which are provided to facilitate teaming.
International partnerships, like domestic partnerships, should advance the goals of ARPA-H programs and other funding opportunities. ARPA-H continues to solicit innovative proposals for health and health care research and development (R&D) across its four missions areas: Health Science Futures, Resilient Systems, Scalable Solutions, and Proactive Health.
ARPA-H follows HHS financial assistance regulations and policies. For financial assistance awards, the methodology would need to be otherwise in accordance with HHS requirements, which places an 8% cap for indirect costs reimbursed to foreign entities awarded HHS cooperative agreements. For other transactions (OTs), there is greater latitude for negotiating costing methodologies. Proposers would need to provide their methodology to the ARPA-H Program Manager for approval, to ensure it meets the nature and needs of the project.
They will vary depending on the award type as well as the project and will not be unique to international participants. Financial assistance awards will follow regulatory requirements for reporting. However, additional reporting will be negotiated for all award types. ARPA-H Program Managers are significantly involved with performer progress; therefore, ARPA-H Programs typically follow a monthly reporting structure.
This will depend on the nature and needs of the project and is not a unique consideration for international participants. Project manager costs are not forbidden nor discouraged on ARPA-H awards, but the type, amount, and mix of labor is subject to negotiation.
No, at this time only U.S. citizens are eligible to become Program Managers.
Non-U.S. citizens are eligible to apply. Proposals must be led by one PI under a single organization, and the composition and roles of additional team members or co-PIs are the responsibility of the proposing team. Co-PIs from other institutions are allowed. Non-U.S. companies can register for a unique entity identifier (UEI), which is required to submit a proposal. A non-U.S. company does not need to be represented by a U.S.-based organization, but they do need to make sure they are addressing how their solution will be of benefit to the U.S. taxpayers.
Like U.S. performers, all intellectual property terms are negotiated by the parties in the process of finalizing a funding agreement.
ARPA-H requests pre-notification before Performer’s transfer of IP to a foreign entity under certain circumstances, such as sale of the Performer and all of its assets, as well as exclusive licensing. As the transfer of IP could result in a change to the proposed and awarded project plan including the proposed technology adoption, ARPA-H reserves to right and in some cases may be required to propose alternatives or possibly terminate award if transfer involves a covered foreign entity.
There is no preference for an international entity performing as a prime contractor or subcontractor. It is dependent on the merits of the proposal and the qualifications of the proposer.