Nano Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) announced it has joined the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium (VNEC), a state-established organization that brings together nuclear technology developers, utilities, universities, engineering firms, and research institutions operating in Virginia's nuclear sector.

As part of the membership, Nano Nuclear Chief Executive Officer James Walker will join the VNEC Board of Directors. The company stated it intends to use its membership to build relationships with organizations evaluating power solutions for data centers and other high-load industrial customers in Virginia.

VNEC was established by Virginia statute and formally created in 2015. The organization developed the Virginia Is Nuclear 2025–2029 Strategic Plan, which covers deployment of advanced and small modular reactors, a research and education reactor facility, nuclear supply chain expansion, workforce development, and fuel fabrication initiatives.

Virginia is described in the press release as home to the world's largest data center market. The state has identified advanced nuclear energy as a potential source of carbon-free power for data centers, manufacturing facilities, hospitals, and military installations.

Nano Nuclear is currently developing the KRONOS MMR™ Energy System, a stationary high-temperature gas-cooled reactor in construction permit pre-application engagement with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, in collaboration with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The company also has portable reactor concepts under development, including ZEUS and the LOKI MMR™.

"Virginia represents one of the most compelling locations in the United States for the future deployment of advanced nuclear technology," said Jay Yu, Chairman and Founder of Nano Nuclear Energy, citing the state's nuclear industry base, universities, technical workforce, and data center concentration.

Walker said the membership places Nano Nuclear within Virginia's nuclear community at a time when the state is investing in advanced nuclear research, workforce development, and deployment readiness.