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NSF renews investment in National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure

Student uses nano research instrument

16 sites to give academic, business and industry researchers access to nano research facilities


August 24, 2020

To advance nanoscale science, engineering and technology, the National Science Foundation (NSF) will invest a total of $84 million over five years in a renewal of the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI). NSF established NNCI in 2015 with an $81 million investment.

The NNCI’s 16 sites and coordinating office provide researchers from academia, large and small businesses, and government with access to leading-edge fabrication and characterization tools, instrumentation, and expertise across all disciplines of nanoscale science, engineering and technology.

"NNCI helps scientists and engineers in diverse fields solve challenging convergent research problems" said Dawn Tilbury, NSF assistant director for Engineering. "Research and education through NNCI will continue to yield nanotechnology innovations -- from interconnects for quantum systems to high-resolution imaging to brain-implanted sensors -- that bring economic and societal benefits to us all."

NNCI sites are in 15 states and involve 26 university and partner institutions across the nation. The new NSF awards range from $600,000 to $1.5 million per year for up to five years.

The NNCI coordinating office, operated by Georgia Tech, will continue to provide users with a unified entry point to the network’s overall capabilities, as well as tools and instrumentation. The office also shares best practices for national education and outreach programs across sites.

Funding for NNCI is provided by all NSF directorates and the agency’s Office of International Science and Engineering. NNCI is part of NSF’s investment in the National Nanotechnology Initiative.

NNCI awards

 

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The U.S. National Science Foundation propels the nation forward by advancing fundamental research in all fields of science and engineering. NSF supports research and people by providing facilities, instruments and funding to support their ingenuity and sustain the U.S. as a global leader in research and innovation. With a fiscal year 2023 budget of $9.5 billion, NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 40,000 competitive proposals and makes about 11,000 new awards. Those awards include support for cooperative research with industry, Arctic and Antarctic research and operations, and U.S. participation in international scientific efforts.

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