U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative Releases FY 2026 Budget Request
The NNI’s 2026 budget supplement requests $1.45 billion to advance national nanotechnology research, detailing agency investments, strategic priorities, and the federal plan for upcoming R&D efforts.
The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), the U.S. government’s cross‑agency program for advancing nanoscale science and technology, has released its annual budget supplement. Each year, NNI publishes detailed federal nanotechnology funding plans and progress updates for participating agencies.
The NNI Supplement to the President’s 2026 Budget, published April 9, 2026, outlines the Administration’s request for $1.45 billion to support nanoscale research and development across ten federal agencies. This document serves as both the official budget supplement and the NNI’s annual report, as required under the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act.
In the report, the NNI highlights continued federal commitment to foundational nanoscience, application‑driven research and development, and the expansion of research infrastructure. Including the FY2026 request, cumulative federal investment in the initiative since 2001 approaches $47 billion. The supplement reviews the activities of participating agencies in relation to the NNI’s strategic goals and provides a detailed breakdown of current and planned investments by Program Component Area (PCA), including fundamental nanoscale research, applications in devices and systems, research infrastructure, responsible development of nanotechnology, and education and workforce development.
The FY 2024–2026 investment profile emphasizes three pillars:
• Fundamental nanoscience, supporting the discovery of new nanoscale phenomena.
• Translation and applications, accelerating technologies in areas such as energy, health, materials, and quantum systems.
• Responsible development, including safety research, standards, and public engagement.
NNI also underscores major investments in shared research facilities, advanced instrumentation, and STEM workforce development programs.
The funding trend graph from 2001–2025 shows steady multi‑agency growth, with notable increases between 2005–2010 and again after 2018. NIH/HHS, DOE, NSF, and DOW remain the largest contributors, collectively driving the sustained rise in federal nanotechnology investment.
Read more about the report on NNI website.