QIMC Accelerates Hydrogen-AI Integration Strategy in Nova Scotia Amid Record Industry Staking by Koloma and Rio Tinto

Québec Innovative Materials Corp. (CSE: QIMC; OTCQB: QIMCF; FSE: 7FJ) (“QIMC” or the “Company”) has announced a major acceleration of its Hydrogen-AI integration strategy in Nova Scotia, following an unprecedented wave of global industry staking across the province’s natural hydrogen corridor.

In recent weeks, leading players including Koloma (Denver, Colorado) and Rio Tinto have aggressively expanded their land positions, together registering thousands of new mineral claims across the Cumberland Basin — directly surrounding QIMC’s existing hydrogen projects. Rio Tinto alone has recently secured over 5,000 new claims in proximity to QIMC’s assets. This large-scale regional build-up underscores the basin’s internationally recognized hydrogen potential and validates QIMC’s early technical leadership and first-mover positioning.

Unlike broad-scale acreage accumulation strategies, QIMC’s approach remains scientifically targeted and data-driven, emphasizing structurally validated hydrogen systems identified through integrated geophysical analysis, soil gas surveys, and academic partnerships — particularly with Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS).

QIMC’s exploration model focuses on fault-linked vertical migration conduits, or “hydrogen chimneys,” where hydrogen generated at depth migrates upward through intersecting fractures and faults. These structural stacks are believed to act as rechargeable degassing zones, forming the foundation for sustainable hydrogen accumulation and surface expression.

“The scale and pace of recent staking activity confirm that Nova Scotia is emerging as a global hub for natural hydrogen,” said John Karagiannidis, President and CEO of QIMC. “Our competitive advantage lies not just in land position, but in owning the most structurally critical corridors and vertical hydrogen chimneys — the actual engines of hydrogen generation and release within the system.”

Full press release is attached below:

Montreal, Quebec–(Newsfile Corp. – December 11, 2025) – Quebec Innovative Materials Corp (CSE: QIMC) (OTCQB: QIMCF) (FSE: 7FJ) (“QIMC” or the “Company”) announces an acceleration of its hydrogen-AI strategy in Nova Scotia amid unprecedented industry staking activity along the province’s emerging natural hydrogen corridor.

In recent weeks, QIMC has seen intense claim staking by major players, including Koloma, a leading natural hydrogen developer based in Denver, Colorado, as well as several global resource companies. This momentum includes Rio Tinto’s recent acquisition of more than 5,000 new mining claims in areas adjacent to the Company’s properties. This rapid expansion validates the growing recognition by global resource and energy leaders of the natural hydrogen potential of the Nova Scotia basin.

While some players focus on accumulating large acreage, QIMC’s scientific and data-driven approach is highly targeted and based on structurally validated hydrogen systems derived from geophysical data, soil gas measurements, field observations, and scientific collaborations. The Company retains control of key fault-oriented and structurally connected areas, including vertical migration pathways commonly referred to as “hydrogen chimneys.”

These chimneys represent deeply rooted structural conduits that allow hydrogen generated at depth to migrate to the surface through fault intersections and fractured corridors. Management believes these features are fundamental to accumulation and repeated degassing, giving QIMC a distinct strategic advantage over simple large land holdings.

“The scale and pace of recent staking activity confirms that Nova Scotia is establishing itself as a global hub for natural hydrogen,” said John Karagiannidis, President and CEO of QIMC. “Our strength lies not only in our strategic district-scale land package, but in our ability to identify and secure the most structurally critical corridors and vertical migration chimneys within this system at an early stage.”

Acceleration of Hydrogen-AI Strategy

In response to this market momentum and the growing demand for clean, sovereign energy solutions, QIMC is accelerating its vertical integration initiative. This strategy aims to deploy a fully off-grid artificial intelligence (AI) data center infrastructure powered directly by natural hydrogen.

The Company has expanded and activated its AI and Energy Integration Steering Committee, responsible for advancing feasibility work, negotiating partner commitments, and establishing execution frameworks for the deployment of modular hydrogen-powered computing infrastructure in Nova Scotia.

The Committee’s mandate includes:

• Defining site-selection criteria, including proximity to structural hydrogen stacks;
• Evaluating hydrogen-to-power conversion pathways suitable for baseload operation;
• Advancing fully off-grid architecture principles to avoid competition with local electricity demand;
• Supporting structured dialogue with North American partners in the cloud infrastructure and AI-computing sectors.

“The convergence of natural hydrogen systems and compute infrastructure enables a fundamentally new energy-to-application model,” added Karagiannidis. “As competition for clean energy and compute accelerates, QIMC is moving decisively from exploration toward application-driven development and extraction.”

About Québec Innovative Materials Corp. (QIMC)

Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. (CSE: QIMC) (OTCQB: QIMCF) (FSE: 7FJ) is a mineral exploration and development company dedicated to exploring and harnessing the potential of North America’s abundant resources. With properties in Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Minnesota (US), QIMC is focused on specializing in the exploration of white (natural) hydrogen and high-grade silica deposits.

QIMC is committed to sustainable practices and innovation. With a focus on environmental stewardship and cutting-edge extraction technology, the Company aims to unlock the full potential of these materials to drive forward clean energy solutions to power the AI and carbon-neutral economy and contribute to a more sustainable future.

For more information please contact:

QUÉBEC INNOVATIVE MATERIALS CORP.
John Karagiannidis
Chief Executive Officer

Email: info@qimaterials.com
Tel: +1 514-726-7058

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the CSE policies) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements”. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Québec Innovative Materials’ actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates,” “projects,” “potential” and similar expressions, or that events or conditions “will,” “would,” “may,” “could” or “should” occur.

Although Québec Innovative Materials believes the forward-looking information contained in this news release is reasonable based on information available on the date hereof, by their nature, forward-looking statements involve assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Examples of such assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, assumptions, risks and uncertainties associated with general economic conditions in Canada and abroad; adverse industry events; future legislative and regulatory developments in the natural resources sector, in particular as regards the regulation of white (natural) hydrogen exploration, development and exploitation; the Company’s ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favorable terms; natural resources industry and markets in Canada and generally; the ability of Québec Innovative Materials to implement its business strategies; competition; and other assumptions, risks and uncertainties.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While the Company may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.

Cautionary Statements This news release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These statements are based on expectations, estimates, and projections as of the date of this release. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements, as no assurance can be provided regarding future outcomes.