NSF Opens $100M for Quantum and Nano Research Infrastructure
March 2, 2026 · 2 min read
Jared Klein
The National Science Foundation is investing up to $100 million to build a nationwide network of open-access quantum and nanotechnology research facilities — and the first deadline is two weeks away.
The new National Quantum and Nanotechnology Infrastructure (NQNI) program will fund up to 16 sites over five years, each receiving roughly $500,000 to $2 million annually. Together, the sites will form a shared national resource providing fabrication tools, characterization instrumentation, and technical expertise to researchers who currently lack access to high-end quantum and nano facilities.
Who Gets Access
NSF designed NQNI to reach well beyond R1 universities. Community colleges, small businesses, and industry partners are all explicitly eligible to use the facilities. Each site must serve its regional innovation ecosystem, lowering the barrier for organizations that cannot justify building their own cleanrooms or quantum testbeds.
"This NSF investment in research facilities will power U.S. discovery in quantum and nanotechnologies to fuel our economy," said Don Millard, head of NSF's Engineering directorate.
What the Program Covers
Focus areas span quantum information science and engineering, nanotechnology, semiconductors, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing. NSF is looking for proposals that demonstrate how a site will accelerate U.S. leadership in at least one of these domains while training the next generation of researchers.
The program fills a gap left by the sunsetting of NSF's National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI), which supported 16 sites through 2025. NQNI expands the model to include quantum capabilities and emphasizes workforce development.
Key Dates for Applicants
Letters of intent are required and due March 16, 2026. Full proposals follow on May 14, 2026. NSF expects to make awards later in FY 2026.
For researchers and small businesses working in quantum computing, semiconductor fabrication, or nanoscale materials, this is one of the largest open-access infrastructure investments NSF has made in years. Identifying the right site to partner with — or to propose — starts now. Platforms like Granted can help teams match their research focus to the right funding opportunities before the LOI window closes.
More in-depth analysis of this program and its implications for researchers is available on the Granted blog.