New York, N.Y., July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 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 it will provide critical engineering and environmental services for NANO Nuclear’s planned construction and deployment activities at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) for its cutting edge KRONOS MMR™ Energy System micro nuclear reactor.
As part of this initiative, NANO Nuclear has engaged AECOM, the trusted global infrastructure leader, under a master services agreement to support site-specific engineering, environmental analysis and regulatory planning at UIUC. The agreement lays the groundwork for site-specific engineering in preparation for deploying the first KRONOS MMR at UIUC, a globally recognized hub for nuclear research and innovation. Planned activities include detailed environmental reviews, regulatory pathway planning, and site drilling to obtain the geological data required for submitting a construction permit application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
Figure 1 – NANO Nuclear Energy Engages AECOM, the global infrastructure leader, to support the planned activities of detailed environmental reviews, regulatory pathway planning, and site drilling to obtain the geological data required for submitting a construction permit application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC).
“This milestone marks a pivotal step in NANO Nuclear’s development roadmap for the KRONOS MMR, our most advanced microreactor design,” said James Walker, Chief Executive Officer of NANO Nuclear. “Our work at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign demonstrates our commitment to turning next-generation nuclear technology into real-world energy solutions. Building and operating one of the first licensed microreactors on a U.S. university campus places NANO Nuclear at the forefront of the microreactor industry.”
Initial work at the UIUC site includes:
- Technical feasibility studies
- Site assessment and environmental analysis
- Permitting and licensing support
- Regulatory interface coordination
The project represents a critical step in NANO Nuclear’s mission to deploy safe, fully modular, and zero-emission microreactor systems across remote, commercial, and defense sectors. A successful installation and operation at UIUC in the future would provide an unprecedented real-world demonstration of the KRONOS MMR™ microreactor platform and serve as a model for future university, government, and commercial deployments nationwide. UIUC is already a national leader in nuclear engineering and hosts one of the most advanced research programs in the country. Siting a licensed microreactor on campus would not only provide cutting-edge research and training opportunities but also position UIUC as a national demonstration site for clean, resilient energy.
“We are proud to support this initiative with NANO Nuclear,” said Barry Baker, Vice President and Regional Practice Lead for Environmental Planning and Permitting at AECOM. “This project represents a diversification of the energy portfolio, supporting a future of clean, distributed energy, and AECOM is ready to leverage its global engineering, environmental, and regulatory expertise to help realize the project’s vision.”
“Our progress at UIUC is a critical signal to the market: we’re not just designing next-gen reactors, we’re moving forward efficiently with building them, testing them, and preparing for regulatory licensing and real-world deployment,” said Jay Yu, Founder and Executive Chairman of NANO Nuclear. Once we receive the construction permit for the KRONOS MMR, we believe we will be firmly in the lead within the United States microreactor race, and we believe this agreement is a key inflection point in our journey.”
NANO Nuclear’s work affirms its growing influence in the nuclear technology space and strengthens investor confidence in its ability to execute on its high-impact plans. As the global energy transition towards nuclear accelerates, NANO Nuclear is positioned to provide deployable, high-efficiency microreactor systems that serve both industrial demand and humanitarian needs.