$100 million federal investment could build nationwide network of open-access quantum research facilities
The NSF funding will begin to establish the National Quantum and Nanotechnology Research Infrastructure program. What does this mean for Tennessee's quantum initiatives?
The U.S. National Science Foundation announced a $100 million investment to establish a nationwide network of 16 open-access research sites for quantum and nanoscale technologies, innovation, and workforce training.
The investment will trickle into the establishment of these 16 facilities over the course of five years. Together, the sites will form a shared national resource serving regional innovation ecosystems, including community colleges and small businesses.
The NSF is calling the new initiative the National Quantum and Nanotechnology Research Infrastructure program, and the goal is to accelerate U.S. leadership in quantum information science.
“This NSF investment in research facilities will power U.S. discovery in quantum and nanotechnologies to fuel our economy,” said Don Millard, head of Engineering at NSF. “With facilities open to students, faculty, and small businesses, the National Quantum and Nanotechnology Research Infrastructure program will enable transformative ideas to be explored, scaled, and translated.”
What could this mean for Tennessee?
Tennessee is already ahead of the proverbial curve when it comes to quantum-readiness, and this is in large part due to efforts stemming from Chattanooga’s innovation ecosystem.
Recent headlines like Vanderbilt University’s partnership with EPB to launch the Institute for Quantum Innovation in Chattanooga, Governor Lee’s announcement for a $20 million allocation to the newly formed Tennessee Quantum Initiative, a $4 million investment from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for EPB’s quantum workforce development efforts, and even CO.LAB’s launch of its inaugural statewide Quantum Activation series points toward the same North Star goal.
Additionally, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) has been a force in the quantum conversation in Chattanooga. UTC’s Quantum Center is the university’s hub for quantum information science and engineering, with programs that span R&D infrastructure, workforce development, applied research, and business collaboration. The center is connected to the EPB Quantum Network, which gives UTC students, faculty, and private partners hands‑on access to a real quantum network and computing resources in Chattanooga.
All of these efforts combined aim to put Chattanooga at the epicenter of quantum research and innovation. Afterall, Chattanooga remains the first commercially available quantum computing and networking hub in the United States.
EPB’s Quantum Center is scheduled for completion in early 2026 and will provide commercial access to both quantum networking and quantum processing. This builds on the EPB Quantum Network launched in 2023 and expands capabilities via EPB’s partnership with IonQ, one of the key private leaders in quantum.
The NSF’s plan to establish the National Quantum and Nanotechnology Research Infrastructure could open new doors for Tennessee: more partnerships, more research, and more opportunities within a broader quantum network.
The National Science Foundation has invested in nanotechnology infrastructure for nearly 50 years, most recently through the NSF National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure program from 2015 to 2025.
Letters of Intent for the program are due March 16, 2026.
Learn more about the funding opportunity here.
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