Critical milestone achieved on the pathway to commercial deployment as NANO Nuclear becomes one of only a handful of advanced reactor developers to reach Construction Permit Application stage, marking transition from concept to formal NRC licensable, build-ready system
NEW YORK, N.Y., April 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) (“NANO Nuclear” or the “Company”), a leading advanced nuclear energy and microreactor developer, today announced that a Construction Permit Application (CPA) has been submitted to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for its KRONOS MMR™ microreactor. The CPA was formally submitted by The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U. of I.), NANO Nuclear’s partner for the KRONOS MMR™ deployment at the U. of I.
With this submission, NANO Nuclear becomes the first commercially-ready microreactor developer and the third commercially-ready Generation IV advanced reactor developer to submit a CPA, placing NANO Nuclear among a small group of advanced nuclear companies progressing toward commercial deployment.
The CPA submission represents the achievement of a critical milestone for the KRONOS MMR™ on the pathway from engineering design, to construction on the campus of the U. of I., to reactor licensing, to ultimate commercial deployment.
A Major Industry Filter: From Concept to Reality
The CPA represents one of the most consequential milestones in the nuclear reactor development lifecycle. Unlike early-stage conceptual work, a CPA requires:
- Advanced engineering and safety analysis
- Site-specific evaluation and environmental considerations
- Demonstration of compliance with NRC regulatory frameworks
- Extensive documentation developed through ongoing engagement with NRC staff
This process is not undertaken in isolation – developers typically engage in pre-application interactions and iterative feedback with the NRC, meaning that a CPA submission reflects years of technical refinement and regulatory alignment.
As a result, reaching this milestone is highly regarded across the industry as a key factor separating companies with viable reactor solutions from those with early-stage conceptual designs.
The preparation of a CPA represents the culmination of years of engineering development, thousands of pages of technical documentation, coordinated input across reactor design, safety analysis, environmental review, and regulatory compliance disciplines, and establishment of a viable supply chain. In NANO Nuclear’s partnership with the U. of I., the CPA submission builds on an extensive body of work developed through continuous engagement with the NRC, including completion of the readiness assessment, a voluntary but highly rigorous process aimed at ensuring a complete and high-quality application. Importantly, this iterative process reflects a high level of alignment with regulatory expectations and provides strong confidence in the application’s readiness for acceptance for docketing and formal NRC review.
Figure 1- Rendering of NANO Nuclear Energy’s KRONOS MMR™ Energy System on the U. of I. Campus.
Positioning NANO Nuclear Energy as an Industry Leader
By advancing to the CPA stage, NANO Nuclear is now firmly positioned as:
- An execution-focused microreactor developer
- A company progressing toward construction and demonstration of a commercially ready reactor over the next few years
- One of the few advanced reactor companies moving through formal NRC licensing
This milestone signals that the intellectual property protected KRONOS MMR™ reactor is no longer just a design, but an energy system being actively moved into construction, licensing, and eventual commercial deployment at scale.
Full-Scale Deployment Strategy Differentiation
Unlike many advanced reactor concepts focused on limited research and development demonstration, NANO Nuclear’s approach with the KRONOS MMR™ is centered on commercially ready, scalable systems designed for real-world applications from the outset.
NANO Nuclear believes the KRONOS MMR™ CPA submission represents one of the only full-scale, deployment-oriented reactor applications among its peer group, reflecting a strategy focused not just on proving technology, but on building repeatable, commercially viable systems. This approach directly supports NANO Nuclear’s broader vision of:
- Regulatory approval of a standardized commercial power reactor
- Standardized reactor manufacturing
- Fleet-scale rollout across multiple markets
Insights gained through the CPA process are expected to play a critical role in refining NANO Nuclear’s assembly, siting, and deployment strategies, enabling the Company to move efficiently through future licensing and through multi-unit deployment projects.
Figure 2 – NANO Nuclear Energy has completed site-characterization for its KRONOS MMR™ Energy System in partnership with the University of Illinois.
Leadership Commentary
Florent Heidet, Chief Technical Officer of NANO Nuclear Energy Inc., said: “Submitting the Construction Permit Application to the NRC is a defining moment for NANO Nuclear. This milestone represents years of engineering, regulatory engagement, and disciplined execution. It is where advanced nuclear projects begin to separate into those that are ready for execution and those still requiring significant R&D efforts.”
“We are now firmly on the path toward constructing, demonstrating, and ultimately deploying our reactor technology at scale. This is not just a step forward for NANO Nuclear – it is a step toward making advanced nuclear a commercial reality.”
Jay Yu, Founder and Chairman of NANO Nuclear Energy, added: “Reaching the CPA stage places NANO Nuclear in a small group of companies that are advancing toward commercial deployment at scale. This process demands a significant level of technical maturity, regulatory alignment, and operational readiness. It is a powerful validation of our technology and our strategy. With this milestone achieved, our engineering teams are now laser focused on building out a reduced-scaled KRONOS MMR™ non-nuclear engineering demonstration unit in our newly renovated Oak Brook, Illinois technical and demonstration facility.”
“What differentiates NANO Nuclear has been our focus from day one on scalable, commercial deployment. We are not building a science project – we are building a platform for widespread adoption of nuclear energy. The CPA submission brings us significantly closer to delivering on that vision.”
Caleb Brooks, Professor and Donald Biggar Willett Faculty Scholar of Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering at The Grainger College of Engineering, said: “Through every step of the process thus far, we at The Grainger College of Engineering have worked diligently alongside our partners at NANO Nuclear Energy to ensure our goals in constructing the first KRONOS micro modular reactor (MMR) on the university’s campus can become a reality. By submitting the Construction Permit Application to the NRC, we are taking the next step in signifying that the work will be done correctly and precisely. And we continue to look forward to the possibilities of what can become the most advanced nuclear research platform on any U.S. campus.”
Advancing Toward Licensing and Deployment
Following acceptance of the CPA for review, the NRC will begin its formal evaluation process, including safety and environmental assessments. Based on NANO Nuclear’s current understanding of the anticipated scope and review process, the company estimates the NRC formal review period to take approximately 12 months. The review period represents the next phase in NANO Nuclear’s journey toward:
- Construction authorization
- Reactor operation
- Commercial licensing
- Fleet-scale deployment at scale
Market Opportunity
With global demand for clean, reliable baseload power accelerating – driven by artificial intelligence, electrification, and industrial decarbonization – the timing of this milestone is particularly significant. Developers capable of navigating the regulatory process today are expected to be well-positioned to deploy reactors in the years to come. NANO Nuclear’s KRONOS MMR™ design advancement to the CPA stage signals not only technical maturity, but also the ability to move at the pace required to capture first-mover advantage in a rapidly tightening energy market.