Pre-application engagement of the Kronos MMR continues through collaboration with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) (“NANO Nuclear” or “the Company”), a leading advanced nuclear energy and technology company focused on developing clean energy solutions, today announced that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has updated the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U. of I.) project landing page (NRC Project No. 99902094) surrounding the KRONOS MMR^TM Energy System pre-application engagement, officially designating NANO Nuclear as the reactor’s designer.

In January 2025, NANO Nuclear acquired certain nuclear energy technology assets from Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation and its subsidiaries, including the KRONOS MMR^TM Energy System. At that time, NANO Nuclear signaled its intent to extend an existing collaboration for this project with U. of I. to demonstrate the system’s technology readiness level. The adjustment to the university’s regulatory docket reflects the ongoing progress of these efforts and underscores NANO Nuclear’s commitment to guiding the KRONOS MMR^TM Energy System through demonstration and all applicable regulatory processes.

The proposed research reactor would utilize TRISO particle fuel, helium gas coolant, and graphite moderator. The reactor would be located on the university’s Urbana campus and would have a molten salt secondary loop providing thermal integration with in-place infrastructure.

More information regarding the pre-application can be found on the NRC’s website here: https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-reactors/advanced/who-were-working-with/pre-application-activities/university-of-illinois-at-urbana-champaign.html

“We’re thrilled to work alongside U. of I. to advance our KRONOS MMR^TM Energy System to the next stage of development and appreciate the NRC’s revision to the University’s construction permit pre-application to reflect NANO Nuclear as the designer,” said Jay Yu, Founder and Chairman of NANO Nuclear Energy. “This update marks a major milestone for NANO Nuclear, initiating our official licensing activities surrounding the KRONOS MMR^TM with the NRC. Establishing this relationship is pivotal to the ongoing development of our suite of portable microreactor technologies, including ODIN, ZEUS and LOKI MMR^TM currently in development.”

Figure 1 – NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. Designated as Reactor Designer in the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Construction Permit Pre-application.

“We anticipate that our collaboration with U. of I. will demonstrate to U.S. nuclear regulators that the KRONOS MMR^TM meets the necessary standards to continue its progress through the licensing pathways,” said James Walker, Chief Executive Officer of NANO Nuclear Energy. “The revision to Illinois’ construction permit pre-application highlights our commitment to this technology and signals our intention to move our energy systems through the regulatory demonstration and licensing process and closer to commercialization, utilizing some of the most sophisticated and advanced facilities in the country.”