HPQ and Novacium Deliver Custom-Configured Battery Packs to Three European Drone Manufacturers for Final-Stage Evaluation

• Thirty custom-configured battery packs have been delivered for evaluation across three separate European drone-manufacturer programs.
• The battery packs incorporate Novacium’s proprietary silicon-based anode material.
• Each battery-pack configuration was adapted to each manufacturer’s technical specifications and specific drone-platform requirements.
  

MONTREAL, Aug. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HPQ Silicon Inc. (“HPQ” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: HPQ, OTCQB: HPQFF, FRA: O08), a technology company specializing in advanced materials innovation and the development of next-generation processes, and its strategic partner Novacium SAS (“Novacium”), are pleased to announce the delivery of 10 custom-configured drone battery packs to each of three European drone manufacturers, representing 30 packs in total. The packs were delivered for final-stage evaluation and potential integration into the manufacturers’ respective drone platforms.

Each battery-pack configuration was adapted based on technical feedback and application-specific requirements provided during earlier stages of the manufacturers’ evaluation processes. The current testing represents the final planned evaluation stage before potential product qualification.

European Drone Market

The European Commission’s Drone Strategy 2.0 identified the development of a large-scale European drone market as a strategic objective and estimated that the European drone-services market could reach approximately €14.5 billion by 2030 ^[1]. European initiatives have placed increased emphasis on expanding domestic drone capabilities and strengthening the region’s industrial and technological capacity.

Within this evolving market, battery performance, (including energy density, weight, range and payload trade-offs), represents an important element of overall drone performance and supports interest in advanced battery technologies such as those being developed by Novacium.

Silicon-Based Battery Technology for Drone Applications

Novacium’s silicon-based anode technology (GEN3 and GEN4), developed through its proprietary process, is designed to enable higher energy densities than conventional graphite-anode cells while addressing the robustness, safety and reliability requirements sought by drone manufacturers ^[2].

As previously reported ^[2], these gains can translate into important operational advantages for drone applications, including increased range, greater payload capacity, or an improved balance between range and payload. To address these application-specific performance requirements, each battery-pack configuration delivered to the three drone manufacturers was specifically designed around the respective end customer’s technical and operational specifications.

“Reaching this stage with three different drone manufacturers is an important milestone in a process that began in the fourth quarter of 2025,” said Jed Kraiem, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Novacium SAS. “Over the course of these evaluations, each manufacturer has provided technical feedback and application-specific requirements that have allowed us to adapt the battery-pack configurations to their respective drone platforms. Our present focus is on supporting the manufacturers through this final planned evaluation stage and obtaining further technical feedback on the performance of the packs toward potential product qualification.”

“These three separate evaluation programs provide Novacium with an opportunity to assess its technology across different drone platforms and operating requirements,” said Bernard Tourillon, President and CEO of HPQ Silicon. “Moving all three programs to this final evaluation stage represents continued progress in the technical evaluation of Novacium’s battery technology. The technical feedback generated through these evaluations will assist Novacium in further adapting and validating its battery-pack configurations. For HPQ, this work is relevant through our equity ownership in Novacium and our exclusive North American licence to Novacium’s technologies.”

Reference

[1]	Europe Drone Strategy 2.0: Creating a large-scale European drone market [Link to article]
[2]	Link to HPQ Release of: (April 30, 2026), (April 22, 2026), (April 15, 2026), (April 7, 2026), (March 19, 2025).

About HPQ Silicon

HPQ Silicon Inc. is a Quebec-based TSX Venture Exchange industrial issuer (TSX-V: HPQ) 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-CO₂ 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.

For more information, please visit HPQ Silicon web site.

About NOVACIUM SAS

Novacium is an innovative technology start-up created in 2022, in France. It is an engineering and R&D company dedicated to materials for energy, with a specialization in silicon and hydrogen. Novacium is developing 2 technologies. The first concerns a new silicon-based anode material that significantly increases the capacity of Li-ion batteries. Novacium's second activity is the generation of hydrogen. Novacium is developing an autonomous hydrogen generation system for civil and military applications fueled by a patented alloy based on silicon and aluminum.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements rely on assumptions about technology performance, market demand, permits, financing, supply chains, and economic conditions but remain subject to significant risks, including delays, regulatory challenges, competition, pricing, financing availability, and macroeconomic uncertainties. Actual outcomes may differ materially from expectations. Detailed risk factors are outlined in HPQ’s Annual Information Form available on SEDAR+. Forward-looking information is provided solely to outline management’s future expectations and objectives.

A more detailed cautionary note regarding forward-looking information related to the HPQ Endura+ batteries project is available for download [here].

Further information regarding the Company is available in the SEDAR+ database (www.sedarplus.ca), and on the Company’s website at: http://www.hpqsilicon.com/

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This News Release is available on the company's CEO Verified Discussion Forum, a moderated social media platform that enables civilized discussion and Q&A between Management and Shareholders. 

Source: HPQ Silicon Inc.

For further information contact:

Bernard J. Tourillon, Chairman, President, and CEO
Tel +1 (514) 846-3271 / Email: Info@hpqsilicon.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5d4ed1aa-b50b-44c4-b2a2-00a1b841244a