* The winner of the 3rd annual award will be announced on July 28.

Venlo, The Netherlands -- Belden Inc. (NYSE: BDC), a leading global provider of complete connection solutions, is pleased to announce that three companies have been selected as finalists for the 3rd annual Joseph C. Belden Innovation Award.

The three finalists were selected from a highly competitive field of submissions by a panel of industry expert judges. This year's entries were evaluated on how effectively they enable IT/OT convergence. The three finalists are united by a common focus: bridging IT and OT to capitalize on technological advances, unlock data-driven efficiencies, and drive greater agility and profitability across diverse applications. Fellow innovators and thought leaders will explore the disruptive trends that are shaping the industry while honoring the 2026 Joseph C. Belden Innovation Award finalists and winner at the Belden Innovation Summit in July.

The finalists are:

G-SPACE: The company submitted G-SPACE, a machine learning platform for microgravity product design. G-SPACE turns complex experiment data into actionable insights for R&D and manufacturing teams, enabling faster analytics, optimization and prediction. Standardized workflows help scale microgravity experiments into repeatable processes, accelerating space-made products with lower risk.

PROLIM: The company submitted PROMIS, an AI-native Digital Manufacturing Platform for Industry 4.0. PROMIS integrates AI, IoT and automation to deliver real-time visibility, predictive insights and operational excellence. Seamlessly connected with PLM, ERP and MES systems like Siemens and SAP, PROMIS optimizes performance, quality and compliance across global manufacturing.

Thread: The company submitted Thread, an AI-powered workflow platform that automates the handoff from sales to delivery for network infrastructure projects helping bridge IT requirements and field/operational execution. For telco and ISP cabling deployments, Thread captures scope, site details and partner requirements, standardizes implementation milestones and coordinates internal teams and installers, reducing delays, rework and time-to-service.

The Summit will be hosted by Jeff Winter, Belden's Vice President of Commercial Strategy and one of the most recognized voices in industrial automation and Industry 4.0. Ranked the #1 global thought leader for Industry 4.0 by Onalytica and the #1 global influencer in manufacturing by Manufacturing Digital Magazine, Winter has over two decades of experience spanning automation, controls and digital transformation -- making him the ideal guide for a conversation at the intersection of innovation, IT/OT convergence and the future of manufacturing.

The award is named after Belden's founder, Joseph C. Belden. 2026 marks the 150th anniversary of Joe Belden's birth, and this year's summit commemorates this milestone while celebrating the innovative spirit that has shaped Belden from the start. His patents and ingenuity helped the company become an early telecommunications leader, laying the foundation for modern-day Belden's portfolio of network and data solutions. The Joseph C. Belden Innovation Award shines a spotlight on innovations that power the future in industries such as healthcare, manufacturing and telecommunications.

To learn more about the Joseph C. Belden Innovation Award, visit our website: https://www.belden.com/About/Joseph-C-Belden-Innovation-Award.

For editorial enquiries, please contact

Scott Todd

Manager, Public Relations and Thought Leadership

Belden

+1 317 316 6473

scott.todd@belden.com

Branislav Visnansky

EMG

+31 682 011 364

bvisnansky@emg-marcom.com