NSF Announces $100M National Quantum and Nanotechnology Research Infrastructure Program
The U.S. National Science Foundation announced a $100 million investment to establish up to 16 open-access research sites for quantum and nanoscale technologies over five years, with letters of intent due March 16, 2026.
The U.S. National Science Foundation announced on February 13, 2026, that it is investing up to $100 million to establish a nationwide network of open-access research facilities for quantum and nanoscale technologies, innovation, and workforce training. The NSF National Quantum and Nanotechnology Infrastructure (NSF NQNI) program will support up to 16 sites over five years, providing students, researchers, and industry with access to state-of-the-art fabrication and characterization tools, instrumentation, and expertise.
Individual NQNI sites will receive between $500,000 and $2,000,000 per year. The program is structured to support regional innovation ecosystems by providing hands-on access to state-of-the-art instrumentation—such as advanced lithography, cryogenic characterization, and cleanroom facilities—that are often financially inaccessible to smaller institutions.
The NQNI serves as the direct successor to the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI, 2015–2025), expanding the previous mandate to include a dedicated focus on the specialized fabrication and characterization needs of Quantum Information Science and Engineering (QISE). Together, the sites will form a shared national resource serving regional innovation ecosystems, including community colleges and small businesses.
A secondary selection phase is planned to establish a central NQNI Coordinating Office. This office will oversee the collective impact of the network, ensuring that technical expertise and workforce training protocols are standardized to accelerate the transition of quantum and nanoscale discoveries into commercial applications.
The NSF NQNI will accelerate U.S. leadership in quantum information science and engineering, nanotechnology, semiconductors, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, and other emerging technologies. This investment aligns with the National Quantum Initiative (NQI) Act and broader federal priorities to secure U.S. leadership in critical technologies. By integrating quantum-ready infrastructure into a proven nanotechnology framework, the NSF aims to bridge the "valley of death" for emerging hardware startups.
Letters of intent for institutions seeking to host an NQNI site are required by March 16, 2026, with full proposals due by May 14, 2026.