NSF Commits $100M to Build National Quantum and Nanotech Research Network
March 4, 2026 · 2 min read
Claire Cummings
The National Science Foundation is investing up to $100 million over five years to create a nationwide network of open-access research facilities for quantum information science and nanotechnology—a program that could reshape how universities, small businesses, and community colleges access cutting-edge fabrication tools.
What the NQNI Program Funds
The National Quantum and Nanotechnology Infrastructure program (NSF 26-505) will support 8 to 16 university-hosted sites, each receiving between $500,000 and $2 million annually. The facilities will provide open access to advanced lithography equipment, cryogenic characterization tools, cleanroom environments, and expert training across quantum computing, semiconductors, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing.
A separate coordinating office, funded at roughly $700,000 per year, will oversee the network and ensure consistent access standards across all sites.
The program explicitly cannot fund construction or physical infrastructure—awards cover personnel, equipment operation, education, training, workforce development, and outreach. That distinction matters for applicants: the best proposals will describe how existing facilities can be upgraded and opened to external users, not how new buildings will be erected.
Who Should Pay Attention
Only institutions of higher education may submit proposals, with each organization limited to one submission. Principal investigators must hold tenure-track or full-time research positions. But the program's reach extends well beyond campus labs—the facilities are designed to serve small businesses, industry partners, community college students, and regional innovation ecosystems that currently lack access to nanoscale and quantum fabrication infrastructure.
Each proposal must include at least three letters of collaboration from regional partners, signaling that NSF wants these sites to function as shared community resources rather than closed university labs.
The March 16 Deadline Is Days Away
Letters of intent are due March 16, 2026, with full proposals due May 14. The total budget ranges from $60 million to $100 million depending on proposal quality, and awards are renewable for an additional five years.
The NQNI replaces NSF's National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure, which ran from 2015 to 2025. The expanded focus now includes quantum information science alongside nanotechnology, reflecting priorities set by the National Quantum Initiative Act.
Researchers and institutions working in quantum hardware, semiconductor device fabrication, or advanced materials should review the full solicitation immediately. For organizations exploring emerging tech commercialization, tools like Granted can help identify complementary federal funding opportunities across agencies. In-depth analysis of NSF's infrastructure strategy is available on the Granted blog.