MERRIMACK – The National Science Foundation has recommended the renewal of a $12.6 million, five-year grant for the Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing based at the University of New Hampshire, Northeastern University and the University of Massachusetts at Lowell.

The center first obtained a five-year, $12.6 million grant in 2004, set to run its course next year, and with the recommendation, a final decision on renewal is expected within three months, said chemical engineer Glenn Miller, director of the center at UNH.

University of New Hampshire partnered with Nantero Inc. and Triton Biosystems Inc. in Massachusetts and is working on patenting processes for manufacturing nanostructures, the development of a computer memory chip and a biosensor for market.

"I can confirm the center received a favorable review and has been recommended for renewal," said NSF spokesman Bobbie Mixon Jr.

She said NSF could approve it soon.

"We anticipate that we will."