NEO Battery & Zio Robot Enter Technology Partnership to Enhance AI Logistics Robotics Performance

• Strategic Technology Partnership with Zio Robot Co., Ltd., a South Korean AI logistics robotics company closely collaborating with and backed by Samsung Electronics
• Optimizing high-energy batteries for integration into Zio's Mobile Worker AMR platforms that handle heavy-duty payload up to 6,000 kg
• Prototype deployment with anchor collaborators, including Samsung Electronics, for validation in industrial and manufacturing logistics
• Zio's proprietary modular robotics architecture enables flexible deployment across warehouses, hospitals, and manufacturing environments

NEO Battery Materials Ltd. ("NEO" or the "Company") (TSXV: NBM) (OTC: NBMFF), a low-cost, silicon-enhanced battery developer that enables longer-running, rapid-charging batteries for drones, robotics, and physical AI, is pleased to enter into a Strategic Technology Partnership (STP) with South Korean-based Zio Robot Co., Ltd. ("Zio"), an AI logistics robotics company, to commercially integrate high-energy lithium-ion battery cells optimized for Zio's "Mobile Worker" or MW-series of autonomous mobile robots (AMR) for payload logistics.

The partnership focuses on improving energy density and high-rate discharge capability compared to the Chinese-manufactured batteries currently used in the MW platforms. Expected system-level outcomes are increased payload capacity and extended operational runtime. Both NEO and Zio will prototype and deliver integrated battery solutions to Zio's anchor collaborators, including Samsung Electronics, where MW systems are deployed for industrial and manufacturing logistics.

Zio's MW platform handles payloads of up to 6,000 kilograms, placing significant demands on battery capacity, discharge/power rates, and cycle life. Differentiating from incumbent technologies, Zio's modular architecture enables multiple MW units to link and unlink based on site requirements, reducing initial deployment costs while supporting flexible customization across targeted industries. The platform combines AMR systems with intelligent control algorithms and an omnidirectional driving system to further widen mission capabilities and enhance human-robot interaction (HRI).

Dr. Tae Hun Kang, CEO of Zio, expressed, "Zio is pleased to initiate this battery development and optimization project. We anticipate that NEO's high-performance batteries will provide MW robots with a competitive edge in logistics. This partnership also presents an opportunity for Zio to develop higher-load MW models that exceed our current maximum payload capabilities. By diversifying battery procurement away from Chinese suppliers to NEO, we expect to expand beyond our current serviceable markets and applications."

Mr. Spencer Huh, President & CEO of NEO, commented, "Zio's logistics robots face the same battery constraints as drone platforms: runtime and payload capacity are directly limited by cell-level performance. Following the successful live field demonstration of our NBM Drone Cell, this partnership extends NEO's proven approach into another high-growth vertical in physical AI. Western and Western-allied robotics and industrial automation sectors are actively seeking non-Chinese, application-specific battery solutions, and NEO is well-positioned to fulfill and deliver this demand."

About Zio Robot Co., Ltd.
Zio Robot Co., Ltd. is South Korean autonomous mobile robotics (AMR) company focused on shaping the paradigm of global robotics industry with a human-robot interaction (HRI)-led development approach. Founded in 2022 by researchers from Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Zio Robot specializes in AMR-based logistics robotics for various environments, including hospitals, industrial warehouses, and manufacturing facilities. Zio has recently received Innovation Awards from the South Korean Ministry of Finance and Economy's Public Procurement Service, ISO 9001/14001/45001, and KC & CE certifications for international export. Zio Robot has been backed by Samsung Electronics through C-Lab Outside - a startup accelerator formed by Samsung. For more information, please visit Zio Robot's website at: https://www.ziorobot.com/

About NEO Battery Materials Ltd.
NEO Battery Materials is a Canadian battery technology company focused on developing and producing silicon-enhanced lithium-ion batteries in drones, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), robotics, unmanned systems, electronics, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems for AI data centers. With a patent-protected, low-cost manufacturing process, NEO Battery enables longer-running and ultra-fast charging batteries and provides end-to-end battery solutions from materials selection, cell architecture, and process optimization. The Company aims to be a globally-leading producer of high-performance lithium-ion battery components and materials, building a secure, robust battery supply chain in North America. For more information, please visit the Company's website at: https://www.neobatterymaterials.com/.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors
Spencer Huh
Director, President, and CEO

This news release includes certain forward-looking statements as well as management's objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions. All information contained herein that is not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. Generally, such forward-looking information can be identified notably by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". 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SOURCE NEO Battery Materials Ltd.