NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. has joined the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium (VNEC) to advance nuclear innovation and support the Commonwealth's growing energy requirements driven by data centers and critical industries. The company intends to use its membership to build relationships with organizations evaluating future power solutions for high-load industrial customers in Virginia. Chief Executive Officer James Walker will join the VNEC Board of Directors to help implement the organization's mission and priorities. NANO Nuclear’s VNEC membership also brings with it the opportunity for VNEC to advocate for NANO Nuclear’s interests.

VNEC brings together nuclear technology developers, utilities, universities, and research institutions to sustain Virginia's position as a leader in nuclear energy. The consortium was established by Virginia statute in 2015 to promote the nuclear industry and serves as a public resource on nuclear energy issues. VNEC facilitates collaboration, business development, research, training, and informed public policy.

Strategic Plan and Infrastructure

VNEC developed the Virginia Is Nuclear 2025-2029 Strategic Plan to deploy advanced and small modular reactors and establish a research facility through the Virginia Innovative Nuclear Hub. The plan includes securing funding for new nuclear projects in manufacturing, fuel fabrication, and nuclear medicine, as well as expanding the nuclear supply chain and workforce pipelines. Virginia's assets include port infrastructure, nuclear fuel fabrication firms, shipbuilding operations, and a large nuclear-capable workforce.

Data Center Market Demand

Virginia is home to the world's largest data center market and a major concentration of hyperscale computing infrastructure. The expansion of artificial intelligence and cloud computing is driving substantial growth in electricity demand. State policymakers have advanced dedicated rate structures for large-load customers and are examining grid reliability and generation development. Advanced nuclear energy has been identified as a potential source of reliable, carbon-free power for data centers and critical infrastructure.

Company Portfolio and Expansion

NANO Nuclear is advancing its KRONOS MMR™ Energy System and associated fuel, transportation, and manufacturing capabilities. The company's vertically integrated strategy includes developing advanced reactors while building capabilities in nuclear fuel, transportation, engineering, and deployment. Through VNEC, NANO Nuclear intends to explore opportunities across its broader portfolio, including dedicated generation, resilient campus power, and industrial heat.

NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. is advancing the regulatory licensing of its KRONOS MMR™ Energy System following the initiation of formal review activities by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). On June 23, 2026, the NRC publicly announced that it had met with representatives from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U. of I.) and NANO Nuclear to mark the start of its review of the Construction Permit Application (CPA) and the planned KRONOS MMR™ research reactor project on the U. of I. campus. This meeting follows the agency's formal acceptance of the CPA on May 18, 2026, which triggered the environmental, safety, and technical review process for the planned deployment at the U. of I. campus, representing a major advancement toward regulatory licensing, construction, and future deployment of the reactor system.

The NRC's anticipated review schedule indicates the environmental assessment is expected in Spring 2027 and the safety evaluation in early Fall 2027. NANO Nuclear stated these milestones align with its expectations that the formal review could be completed in 2027, allowing initial construction activities to commence in the second half of 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary project requirements. The company believes the commencement of formal NRC review activities reinforces the KRONOS MMR™ system's position as the first commercially-ready microreactor developer and highlights its broader strategy of accelerating commercialization through regulatory engagement, engineering advancement, and strategic partnerships.

Global Strategic Engagements

Concurrently, NANO Nuclear is expanding its global strategic engagements across emerging nuclear markets. The company participated in the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa (NEISA) from May 19 to May 21, 2026, in Kigali, Rwanda, where Sarah Lennon, International Nuclear Policy Advisor, served as a panelist. In India, a delegation including NANO Nuclear met with government and private sector officials in New Delhi and Mumbai from May 17 to May 21, 2026. Additionally, the company attended the Latin America and Caribbean Regional Small Modular Reactor Workshop in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from June 2 to June 4, 2026, under the U.S. Department of State's FIRST Program.

Management and Technical Leadership

James Walker, Chief Executive Officer, noted that the commencement of formal NRC review activities demonstrates forward momentum for the KRONOS MMR™ program. Milos Atz, Director of Safety Analysis, emphasized that the review allows for detailed evaluation of environmental, safety, and technical information. Prof. Massimiliano Fratoni, Senior Director and Head of Reactor Design, continues to support the advancement of the prototype KRONOS MMR™ reactor at U. of I. and plans for its commercial deployment. The KRONOS MMR™ is a proprietary, stationary, high-temperature gas-cooled microreactor designed for clean energy applications.