NSF Commits $100M to Build 16 Open-Access Quantum and Nano Research Sites
March 1, 2026 · 2 min read
Claire Cummings
The National Science Foundation is investing $100 million over five years to build a nationwide network of open-access quantum and nanotechnology research facilities. The National Quantum and Nanotechnology Infrastructure program will fund up to 16 sites, each receiving $500,000 to $2 million annually.
Letters of intent are due March 16, 2026. Full proposals are due May 14.
Bridging the Hardware Gap
NQNI succeeds the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI), which ran from 2015 to 2025 and served over 15,000 users annually. The new program expands that mandate to include quantum information science and engineering — a reflection of how rapidly quantum computing hardware has moved from theoretical curiosity to applied research priority.
The sites will house advanced lithography systems, cryogenic characterization tools, and cleanroom facilities. NSF is explicitly designing the program to "bridge the valley of death for emerging hardware startups" by giving smaller institutions and companies access to equipment they cannot afford independently.
Six NSF directorates are backing the program: Engineering, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, STEM Education, Biological Sciences, Social/Behavioral/Economic Sciences, and International Science & Engineering. A central NQNI Coordinating Office will standardize technical expertise and workforce training across all sites.
Who Should Apply
NQNI targets three constituencies: academic researchers, community colleges, and small businesses. The community college inclusion is deliberate — NSF wants the program to feed regional workforce pipelines, not just serve R1 universities.
Research institutions planning to host a site should note that proposals must demonstrate how they will serve users beyond their own campus. NSF reviewers will evaluate plans for external access, industry partnerships, and workforce development alongside technical capability.
The full solicitation is available at NSF 26-505. Contact NQNI@nsf.gov with questions. Grant seekers exploring quantum and nanotechnology funding opportunities can find additional context on grantedai.com.