INSTITUTION PROFILE / NANOTECHNOLOGY
National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI)
The U.S. framework that coordinates federal nanotechnology R&D without owning the budget
The NNI is not a freestanding organisation, and it is not a funding agency in its own right. It is a framework through which more than thirty U.S. federal agencies coordinate the nanotechnology R&D that each funds from its own budget, under shared goals, and report the combined total. Its name comes up often in discussions of U.S. nanotechnology strategy and shared research facilities, but the money is decided by the individual agencies and Congress, and the NNI has no power to set regulations or standards. This profile looks at one question only: how much influence the NNI actually has over nanotechnology.
- The NNI in 30 seconds
- What kind of body it is: the four types of influence
- What it does for nanotechnology
- How far its influence reaches (powers and geography)
- Participating agencies and who holds the money
- Outlook
- Glossary, references and claim-to-source audit
1. The NNI in 30 seconds
The NNI's budget is not money the NNI holds. It is the sum of what each participating agency chooses to invest in nanotechnology from its own budget. The annual report describes the NNI budget as the total of the nanotechnology-related investments allocated by each participating agency (the "NNI crosscut"), and says each agency sets its own budget in coordination with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and Congress Sourced. It is therefore not accurate to say that "the NNI funds research." What the NNI does is set shared goals and priorities, avoid duplication, connect facility networks and standards and safety work, and report the results every year.
2. What kind of body it is: the four types of influence
Unlike the companies in this series, the institutions that appear in nanotechnology coverage do not make nanomaterials or tools themselves. What separates them is the route by which they influence the field, and that gives four types.
3. What it does for nanotechnology
The NNI's activities centre on coordination, reporting and linking rather than on handing out research money Sourced.
| Activity | What it involves | Who does the work |
|---|---|---|
| Strategic plan | The 2021 edition (October 2021) is the latest on the official website. It sets five goals: (1) keep the U.S. a world leader in nanotechnology R&D, (2) promote commercialisation, (3) provide the infrastructure to support research, (4) engage the public and build the workforce, and (5) ensure responsible development. It is a plan required by statute and replaced the 2016 edition | The NSET Subcommittee (part of the National Science and Technology Council) and the NNCO. Individual research is carried out by each agency under its own mission and authority |
| Annual report and budget tally | Adds up each agency's nanotechnology-related investment and publishes it as a supplement to the President's budget. It doubles as the annual report required by statute. The FY2026 edition was published on 9 April 2026 | The NSET Subcommittee and the NNCO |
| Shared research facilities | Presents facility networks funded by several federal agencies as the NNI's shared infrastructure. Examples: five Nanoscale Science Research Centers of the Department of Energy (DOE); the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI, 16 sites) of the National Science Foundation (NSF); the NanoFab at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); and the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Access rules and fees are set by each facility and its funding agency | The operating agency of each facility. The NNCO acts as a contact point |
| Standards | A Standards Coordinator is appointed, and participating agencies take part in ISO/TC 229 (Nanotechnologies), ASTM International Committee E56 and the OECD Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (WPMN). The NNI does not write standards itself. The United States leads ISO/TC 229 Working Group 3 (health, safety and environment), with a representative from NIOSH | Participating agencies such as NIST, FDA and NIOSH |
| Environmental, health and safety work; responsible development | The Nanotechnology Environmental and Health Implications (NEHI) Working Group handles the subject. The researcher-led international nanoEHS Communities of Research (CORs) are facilitated by the NNCO in collaboration with the European Commission | The NEHI Working Group, the NNCO and the European Commission |
| Outreach, education and industry liaison | Public information, education for students and teachers, and an Industry and Regional Liaison who serves as a contact point for the nanotechnology business community | The NNCO |
| External review | The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) published its latest review in 2025. It concentrated on research infrastructure and made six recommendations (see section 6) | NASEM |
FY2026 request by programme component area
NNI spending is tallied under five Program Component Areas (PCAs). The FY2026 request of US$1,449.1 million breaks down as follows Sourced.
| Program Component Area | Request (US$ million) | Share of total |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Foundational research | 716.5 | about 49% |
| 2. Applications, devices and systems | 496.3 | about 34% |
| 3. Research infrastructure and instrumentation | 211.8 | about 15% |
| 4. Education and workforce development | 9.1 | about 0.6% |
| 5. Responsible development | 15.5 | about 1.1% |
| Total | 1,449.1 | - |
Shares are our own calculation from the request figures Our calculation. Components may not sum to the total because of rounding.
The NNI's money is a total of public R&D spending. It is not sales or market size for graphene, nanoparticles or any other material. The 2021 strategic plan also notes that proposals using nanoscale approaches now compete in general research solicitations, and agencies rarely name nanotechnology in their calls any more Sourced. The FY2026 report likewise carries a footnote that NASA's figures now include Science Mission Directorate activities "not reported in prior years" Sourced. Because the scope of the tally depends on what each agency reports, year-on-year changes should not be read as a rise or fall in interest in nanomaterials or in the industry itself Our calculation. Definitions and regulation of nanomaterials belong to other bodies (the European Commission, the OECD, ISO and others).
4. How far its influence reaches (powers and geography)
| Aspect | What the NNI has | What the NNI does not have |
|---|---|---|
| Powers | Writing the strategic plan that sets shared goals and priorities (NSET Subcommittee); tallying and reporting participating agencies' budgets; coordinating facility networks, standards work and environmental, health and safety efforts | Any power to allocate research money independently (budgets belong to the agencies); any power to set regulations, safety criteria or standards; any power to instruct or certify companies |
| Geography | Coordination among U.S. federal agencies. Some facilities (such as NNCI) offer fee-based access to users outside the U.S. | Legal effect on foreign governments or companies; any say in foreign regulation or standards |
| Reach abroad | The nanoEHS research communities run with the European Commission; participating agencies' involvement in ISO/TC 229, the OECD and ASTM | The power to decide international standards or test guidelines (those decisions sit with ISO, the OECD and others) |
| Scale | More than thirty participating agencies (website); an FY2026 request of US$1,449.1 million | No NNI-specific headcount or independent budget could be confirmed in the published documents |
NNI budget figures mean different things depending on whether they are requests or actuals and estimates. The FY2026 supplement sets FY2024 as actual (US$2,248.3 million), FY2025 as estimated (based on enacted levels, US$2,122.4 million) and FY2026 as proposed (request) (US$1,449.1 million) Sourced. The FY2026 request is about 32% below the FY2025 estimate Our calculation. A request can change in Congress, however. We could not confirm the final FY2026 appropriation Not yet confirmed. For comparison, the request in the previous supplement (the FY2025 edition) was US$2.2 billion, which its official page calls an all-time record Sourced.
5. Participating agencies and who holds the money
Agency budgets over time (US$ million)
| Agency | FY2024 (actual) | FY2025 (estimate) | FY2026 (request) |
|---|---|---|---|
| HHS / NIH | 764.9 | 761.7 | 459.0 |
| DOW | 374.2 | 360.7 | 394.2 |
| DOE | 469.9 | 448.2 | 368.0 |
| NSF | 453.0 | 403.9 | 131.1 |
| NIST | 52.8 | 44.6 | 38.3 |
| Other agencies (our subtraction) | 133.5 | 103.3 | 58.5 |
| Total | 2,248.3 | 2,122.4 | 1,449.1 |
The FY2025 "estimate" is based on enacted levels. DOE combines several offices, and DOW combines the Army, Navy, Air Force, DARPA and other organisations. The "Other agencies" row is the table total minus the five rows above, calculated by us Our calculation. HHS also includes FDA, NIOSH and others besides NIH.
Organisations the official documents link to the NNI
| Organisation | Relationship to the NNI (as stated in the official documents) |
|---|---|
| National Science Foundation (NSF) | A university consortium operates the 16 sites of the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI), with fee-based access at reduced rates for students, academics, entrepreneurs and industry |
| Department of Energy (DOE) | Provides five Nanoscale Science Research Centers, located at national laboratories, as shared user facilities |
| National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) | Leads federal measurement research and chairs ASTM International Committee E56; provides the NanoFab as a facility |
| National Institutes of Health (NIH) | Runs the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory and the cancer-focused nanotechnology alliance |
| European Commission | Facilitates the nanoEHS Communities of Research together with the NNCO |
| ISO / ASTM / OECD | Forums where participating agencies take part in standards and test-guideline work. The NNI is not the decision-maker |
| Public-private partnerships (such as P3Nano for cellulosic nanomaterials) | Cited in the strategic plan as examples of partnerships that participating agencies have built. We did not verify any individual company |
We could not confirm from the NNI's official documents any relationship with the companies profiled in this series Not yet confirmed.
6. Outlook
| What can be read | Primary source | Status |
|---|---|---|
| The FY2026 request is far below the FY2025 estimate. The final appropriation is unconfirmed | Table 1 of the FY2026 supplement (request US$1,449.1 million; FY2025 estimate US$2,122.4 million) | Not yet confirmed |
| NASEM recommended that Congress reauthorise the NNI as the "National Nanotechnology Infrastructure," centred on research infrastructure. Whether this is adopted is unconfirmed; the supplement says only that the recommendations are under consideration by the NNI | FY2026 supplement (NASEM's 2025 review and its six recommendations) | Not yet confirmed |
| The 2021 strategic plan is the latest on the official website, and the timing of the next update is not stated in the official documents | The NNI strategic plans list; the 2021 plan (it sets out goals for the next five years) | Not yet confirmed |
| The NNI is likely to keep being presented in terms of the administration's priority areas (artificial intelligence, quantum, biotechnology, semiconductors) | The introduction to the FY2026 supplement says at the outset that the NNI advances these priorities | Inference |
7. Glossary
- NSET Subcommittee
- The Subcommittee on Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology, under the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). Agency representatives use it to set the NNI's shared goals and priorities.
- NNCO
- The National Nanotechnology Coordination Office. The secretariat that supports the NSET Subcommittee and handles outreach, education and industry liaison.
- NNI crosscut
- The method of picking the nanotechnology-related amounts out of each agency's budget and adding them together.
- PCA (Program Component Area)
- The five categories into which NNI spending is divided: foundational research, applications and devices, research infrastructure, education, and responsible development.
- NEHI Working Group
- The participating agencies' working group on the environmental and health implications of nanotechnology.
- DOW
- The Department of War, the name used for that department in the FY2026 supplement.
- Fiscal year (FY)
- The U.S. federal fiscal year runs from October to the following September. FY2026 is October 2025 to September 2026.
8. References
- NNCO About the NNI: overview, "over thirty" participating agencies, and the purpose of coordination. https://www.nano.gov/about-nni/
- NNCO Federal Departments and Agencies Participating in the NNI: the list of participating agencies. https://www.nano.gov/agencies/
- NNCO National Nanotechnology Coordination Office: the NNCO's role and its support for the NSET Subcommittee. https://www.nano.gov/about-nni/nnco/
- NNCO NNI Supplement to the President's 2026 Budget: published 9 April 2026, US$1.45 billion request, cumulative funding of nearly US$47 billion. https://www.nano.gov/2026BudgetSupplement/
- NNI National Nanotechnology Initiative Supplement to the President's 2026 Budget (PDF): description of the NNI crosscut, Tables 1 and 4, NASEM's review, and participation in standards bodies. https://www.nano.gov/sites/default/files/NNI-FY26-Budget-Supplement.pdf
- NNCO NNI Supplement to the President's 2025 Budget: published 19 December 2024, US$2.2 billion request for FY2025. https://www.nano.gov/2025BudgetSupplement/
- NNI National Nanotechnology Initiative Strategic Plan (October 2021): five goals, organisational structure, and the passages on standards and EU collaboration. https://www.nano.gov/sites/default/files/pub_resource/NNI-2021-Strategic-Plan.pdf
- NNCO NNI Strategic Plans: the list of plans and the statement that they are called for by statute. https://www.nano.gov/strategicplans/
- NNCO NNI R&D User Facilities: shared infrastructure including the NSRCs, NNCI, CNST and NCL. https://www.nano.gov/userfacilities/
- NNCO Standards for Nanotechnology: ISO/TC 229, ASTM E56, and the roles of NIST and NIOSH. https://www.nano.gov/standards/
- NNCO 2021 National Nanotechnology Initiative Strategic Plan (web page): published 8 October 2021, a plan required by the 2003 statute. https://www.nano.gov/2021strategicplan/
9. Claim-to-source audit
| Claim in the text | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| The NNI's overview, "over thirty" participating agencies, coordination, avoiding duplication and setting shared goals | Sourced | Reference 1 https://www.nano.gov/about-nni/ |
| The agency list has 32 entries | Our calculation | Reference 2 https://www.nano.gov/agencies/, counted by us |
| The NNCO's role, support for the NSET Subcommittee, and the industry and regional liaison | Sourced | Reference 3 https://www.nano.gov/about-nni/nnco/ |
| The FY2026 request of US$1.45 billion, cumulative funding of nearly US$47 billion, and the 9 April 2026 publication date | Sourced | Reference 4 https://www.nano.gov/2026BudgetSupplement/ |
| The NNI budget as the sum of agencies' nanotechnology investments (crosscut); each agency sets its budget with OMB, OSTP and Congress; the annual report saying 20 agencies | Sourced | Reference 5 https://www.nano.gov/sites/default/files/NNI-FY26-Budget-Supplement.pdf |
| Agency figures in Table 1 (FY2024 actual, FY2025 estimate, FY2026 request) and PCA figures in Table 4 | Sourced | Reference 5 https://www.nano.gov/sites/default/files/NNI-FY26-Budget-Supplement.pdf |
| NASEM's 2025 review and six recommendations; participation in standards bodies (ISO/TC 229, ASTM, OECD WPMN); the footnote on NASA's figures (Table 1) | Sourced | Reference 5 https://www.nano.gov/sites/default/files/NNI-FY26-Budget-Supplement.pdf |
| The FY2025 request of US$2.2 billion, described as an all-time record | Sourced | Reference 6 https://www.nano.gov/2025BudgetSupplement/ |
| The five goals of the 2021 strategic plan; the NSET, NEHI and NNCO structure; the Standards Coordinator; the public-private partnership examples; the nanoEHS CORs with the European Commission; the point about agencies rarely naming nanotechnology in calls | Sourced | Reference 7 https://www.nano.gov/sites/default/files/pub_resource/NNI-2021-Strategic-Plan.pdf |
| That strategic plans are called for by statute, and that the list includes a document dated 2000 | Sourced | Reference 8 https://www.nano.gov/strategicplans/ |
| The 2021 plan's publication date (8 October 2021), that it satisfies the 2003 statute, and that it replaced the 2016 edition | Sourced | Reference 11 https://www.nano.gov/2021strategicplan/ |
| Shared research facilities (five NSRCs, 16 NNCI sites, the NIST NanoFab, the NIH NCL) and the rule that each facility sets its own access terms | Sourced | Reference 9 https://www.nano.gov/userfacilities/ |
| NIST chairing ASTM E56; the U.S. technical advisory group and leadership of ISO/TC 229 Working Group 3 (NIOSH) | Sourced | Reference 10 https://www.nano.gov/standards/ |
| The roughly 32% fall of the FY2026 request against the FY2025 estimate; the PCA shares; the "Other agencies" amounts | Our calculation | Our own calculation from the figures in Tables 1 and 4 of reference 5 |
| The four types of institution | Our calculation | Our own classification |
| The final FY2026 appropriation, whether NASEM's recommendations are adopted, the timing of the next strategic plan, and any relationship with companies | Not yet confirmed | Not stated in references 1 to 11; this article does not estimate them |
| The last outlook item (presentation in terms of priority areas) | Inference | This article's reading of the introduction in reference 5 |
Last updated 9 October 2026 / Troy Technical
Figures come from the NNI website (nano.gov), the initiative's official annual report (the budget supplements) and its strategic plan. Items marked "Inference" are this article's reading of the primary information. Budget amounts are labelled as actual, estimate or request for each fiscal year.