Mr. Bernard Tourillon reports

HPQ AND NOVACIUM STRENGTHEN COMMERCIAL LEADERSHIP TO SUPPORT INDUSTRIAL AND DEFENCE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

HPQ Silicon Inc. and Novacium S.A.S. are expanding their commercial and business development capabilities.

This initiative supports Novacium's transition from technology development toward increased market engagement and commercial development activities across selected industrial and defence markets. It also supports HPQ's business development strategy for Novacium's technologies in Canada, the United States and Mexico under HPQ's exclusive North American commercialization rights.

The expanded business development platform includes the appointment of senior professionals and a strategic advisory relationship intended to support market outreach, identify prospective opportunities and advance discussions with potential industrial and defence-sector stakeholders.

"The addition of commercial leaders with decades of international business development experience, together with operational expertise from the French Special Forces, significantly expands Novacium's business development capabilities by adding experienced professionals in international business development and defence markets," said Bernard Tourillon, president and chief executive officer of HPQ Silicon. "As Novacium expands its business development organization, HPQ expects to benefit from these expanded capabilities through its strategic investment and exclusive North American commercialization rights. We believe this initiative represents another important step in supporting the identification and evaluation of future commercial opportunities for Novacium's technologies."

Offset Links: a strategic partnership to support international growth

HPQ and Novacium have partnered with Offset Links, a consultancy specializing in business development for the industrial and defence sectors.

Under the agreement, Offset Links will provide strategic advisory and business development support to HPQ and Novacium, including identifying potential commercial opportunities, facilitating introductions to prospective industrial and institutional stakeholders, and supporting discussions relating to international business development initiatives.

Initial areas of focus are expected to include Australia and the MENA region markets. No commercial agreements, procurement contracts or customer commitments have been entered into as part of this arrangement.

Jean Deschamps -- founder, chairman and chief executive officer

Mr. Deschamps brings decades of international experience across industry, infrastructure and defence, including several decades in the Middle East.

• Senior leadership roles at SIDEM, THALES and GIAT Industries;
• Major Gulf infrastructure and industrial projects, including one of Abu Dhabi's earliest seawater desalination facilities;
• More than 19 years advising the British Ministry of Defence (MOD) on industrial offset programs in Saudi Arabia.

At HPQ and Novacium, he will support strategic partnerships, international business development and engagement with prospective industrial and institutional stakeholders.

Matthieu Deschamps -- commercial and strategy director

Mr. Deschamps joins as commercial and strategy director with more than 20 years of experience in industry, international business development and strategic growth.

• Led international market expansion programs and negotiated commercial agreements with major industrial clients;
• Supported numerous partnership, investment and corporate development initiatives;
• Skilled in complex negotiations, commercial structuring, strategic account management and scaling high-growth technology ventures.

At HPQ and Novacium, he will lead commercial development initiatives, support strategic partnership discussions and business development activities across selected industrial and defence sectors.

Jean-Louis Florentin -- defence, business development

Novacium and HPQ have appointed Mr. Florentin to lead defence-sector business development, following a 15-year operational career in the French Special Forces.

• Worked closely with defence contractors and military stakeholders to develop and deploy solutions for demanding operational environments;
• Collaborated with organizations including Nexter, the French Army Technical Section (STAT) and the Integrated Structure for the Operational Maintenance of Land Equipment (SIMMT), bridging technical teams, procurement and end-users.

His understanding of defence procurement processes and operational requirements will support HPQ's and Novacium's efforts to develop advanced energy solutions for applications including drones, embedded electronics and next-generation autonomous systems.

"Over the past several years, Novacium has developed a portfolio of energy technologies and is expanding its business development capabilities," said Dr. Jed Kraiem. "The addition of Jean Deschamps, Matthieu Deschamps and Jean-Louis Florentin expands our business development capabilities by combining expertise in international business development, strategic partnerships and defence markets. Together, they will support engagement with prospective industrial, institutional and defence stakeholders while helping identify and evaluate potential commercial opportunities for our technologies."

Salient points about the Offset Links agreement

HPQ and Offset Links have entered into a non-exclusive, arm's-length framework business development agreement with an initial one-year term, renewable unless terminated by either party. Under the agreement, Offset Links will provide strategic advisory and business development services, including identifying prospective opportunities, facilitating introductions to potential partners, and supporting the development of commercial, industrial and technology partnerships. compensation, if any, will be determined separately for each approved business development assignment.

About HPQ Silicon Inc.

HPQ Silicon is a Quebec-based TSX Venture Exchange industrial issuer focused on innovation in advanced materials and critical process development. In partnership with its research and development partner Novacium -- of which HPQ is a shareholder -- the company is advancing next-generation silicon-based anode materials (Gen3 and Gen4) for batteries, commercializing its Endura+ lithium-ion cells, and developing breakthrough clean-hydrogen and waste-to-energy technologies, for which HPQ holds exclusive North American rights.

HPQ is also pursuing proprietary technologies to become a low-cost, zero-carbon-dioxide producer of fumed silica with technical support from PyroGenesis Inc. Together, these initiatives position HPQ to capture growth opportunities in the energy storage, clean hydrogen and advanced materials markets essential to achieving global net-zero goals.

About Novacium S.A.S.

Novacium is an innovative technology start-up created in 2022, in France. It is an engineering and R&D (research and development) company dedicated to materials for energy, with a specialization in silicon and hydrogen. Novacium is developing two technologies. The first concerns a new silicon-based anode material that significantly increases the capacity of lithium-ion batteries. Novacium's second activity is the generation of hydrogen. Novacium is developing an autonomous hydrogen generation system for civil and military applications fuelled by a patented alloy based on silicon and aluminum.

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