HPQ Silicon (HPQ.V) on Wednesday said it signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with LN Innov' and Novacium SAS to launch a 190-day evaluation of a "Canadian-based platform integrating advanced batteries, electric motors and propulsion systems for North American drone and defense markets".
The company holds a 36.8% stake in Novacium and exclusive North American commercialization rights to its technologies. The evaluation will focus mainly on industrialization, manufacturing, supply-chain requirements, certification pathways, target applications, business structure and potential commercialization strategies for North American markets, it said.
The LOI is non-binding, does not grant exclusivity and does not include financial commitments, it added. LN Innov' is scaling up its manufacturing capacity to reach up to 20,000 drone motors per month in France by the end of the third quarter of 2026.
Novacium's advanced battery technologies are currently being evaluated by French drone manufacturers introduced through LN Innov' for potential integration into future drone platforms.
"Through our partnership with Novacium and this new collaboration with LN Innov, we have an opportunity to evaluate the adaptation of an industrial model currently being deployed in Europe for North American markets, combining advanced battery technologies with proven electric propulsion expertise," said HPQ Silicon Chief Executive Bernard Tourillon.
Shares of HPQ were last seen unchanged at $0.165 on the TSX Venture Exchange.