Climate 4.0 Hub
A Franco-Australian initiative driving clean energy innovation and commercialisation across France, Australia, and the Indo-Pacific.
Through its Flagship Accelerator, the Hub serves as a fast-track entry point for French energy start-ups expanding into Australia.
A project by
Operated by
About the Climate 4.0 Hub
Backed by the Franco-Australian Indo-Pacific Centre for Energy Transition (FACET) and operated by Swinburne University of Technology, the Climate 4.0 Hub supports high-potential French climate and energy startups to:
De-risk international expansion
Reduce the risks of entering a new market.
Establish a credible market presence
Build trust and traction in Australia’s clean energy ecosystem.
Convert opportunity into scale
Turn pilots and partnerships into long-term growth.
The Flagship Accelerator
The French Startups Acceleration programme
The Hub’s inaugural programme is a purpose-built accelerator
designed to help French founders move beyond early exploration in Australia and into real market entry, including partnerships, pilots, and investor engagement.
Applications for the 2026 programme are now open and close at 11:59 PM (CEST) on 31 March 2026 / 9:00 AM (AEDT) on 1 April 2026.
Why Join the Flagship Accelerator?
Your bridge into Australia’s fast-growing climate economy
Accelerate your market entry and commercialisation in Australia
The Accelerator aimes to help French startups:
- Enter Australia faster and with confidence
- Avoid common regulatory, market and partnership pitfalls
- Build credibility through trusted institutional and industry networks.
- Enter Australia faster and with confidence
Unlock pathways into one of the world’s fastest-growing climate markets
Australia is undergoing a rapid energy transition, creating demand for proven climate technologies across energy, industry, transport, land use and infrastructure.
The Accelerator is backed by the Franco Australian Centre of Energy Transition (FACET) and operated by Swinburne University of Technology to help founders move beyond exploration and into real market entry, partnerships, pilots and capital conversations.
Connect with industry partners, investors, and global innovation ecosystems
We know warm connections go a long way, that’s why we help French startups plug into Australia’s climate ecosystem through trusted industry, investor, and R&D networks.
How the Flagship Accelerator Works
A unique 2 phases programme
Phase 1 - Launchpad
Prepare your startup for successful entry into the Australian market.
What to expect
- Market entry & validation mentorship
- Market, competitive & technical insights
- Legal, IP, grants & company setup support
Duration
2 months
Delivery
Hybrid with second month on-site in Melbourne, Australia
Phase 2 - Acceleration
Drive growth through market access and strategic partnerships.
What to expect
- Expert-led support to commercialise
- Direct access to partners & customers
- Investor readiness, VC introductions, grant guidance
Duration
3 months
Delivery
On-site in Melbourne, Australia
Eligibility and Commitment
Who is eligible to apply?
Nationality
Climate tech start-up with headquarter registered in France,
and/or French passport-holder Climate Tech founder in Indo-Pacific region with
≥60% French ownership.
Technology focus
Focused on one or more of the following: energy, critical minerals, decarbonisation of transport, industrial decarbonisation, agriTech, land use and climate resilience, built environment and climate services and software.
Maturity level
From Seed to serie B stage (pre-seed excluded) with a technology readiness level between 5 and 8.
Commitment to Australia
Planning to enter the Australian market within 12–24 months and able to commit to 5 months of structured engagement in 2026. The latter includes 3-4 months on the ground in Australia.
What is expected from startups?
Time commitment
Startups are expected to commit to 5 months of engagement across the Accelerator programme. This includes participation in a range of scheduled sessions, meetings, and events designed to support market entry, partnerships, and commercial outcomes.
On-the-ground presence
Selected startups must be prepared to spend up to four months based in Australia during the programme, enabling direct engagement with industry, research, and investor stakeholders.
Programme participation
Active participation is required across programme activities, including briefings, workshops, site visits, curated introductions, and partner meetings.
Team involvement
A founder or salaried team member must act as the primary programme representative, with the authority to advance partnerships, pilots, and market entry discussions.
Collaboration expectations
Startups are expected to engage openly and constructively with FACET, Swinburne University, industry partners, other participating startups, and the broader France–Australia innovation ecosystem to support collaboration, pilots, and commercial outcomes.
Partner with Us
Our partners play a hands-on role in shaping emerging climate technologies, accelerating decarbonisation, and strengthening collaboration between France and Australia.
Partners and investors gain early visibility into emerging climate solutions, with a number of partner benefits.
Partner benefits
- Early access to vetted and market-ready French climate-tech solutions
- Direct influence on the design of pilots, tests and commercial pathways
- Visibility within a growing France–Australia climate innovation ecosystem
- Access to emerging deal flow and funding opportunities
- Strengthened ties with Swinburne University, FACET and major French innovation networks
- Contribution to a programme aligned with national and state net-zero and innovation agendas
Existing partners
How can I apply to the programme?
You can apply by completing the application form above. If the application button is visible, applications are still open.
How many cohorts run each year, and how many startups per cohort?
The programme currently runs one cohort per year and selects approximately five startups per cohort. This small cohort size allows us to provide high-value, tailored support and deep engagement with each participating company.
Do I need to be based in Australia for the full duration of the programme?
To get the most value from the programme, we strongly recommend having a founder on the ground in Australia for the duration of the programme.
That said, we understand this may not always be possible. If you’re unsure whether you can commit to full-time presence in Australia, we still encourage you to apply. During the due diligence process, we’ll discuss your situation and assess whether the accelerator is the right fit, or whether an initial exploratory engagement would be more appropriate.
Where is the programme based in Australia?
While in Australia, participants are hosted at Switch, a dedicated coworking space located in Hawthorn, Melbourne, within the Swinburne University campus and a short train ride from the city centre.
The space includes high-speed Wi-Fi, meeting rooms, screens, phone pods, and shared coworking areas.
Address: Switch, 16 Wakefield Street Hawthorn VIC 3122 Australia
What does TRL 5–8 mean, and why does it matter?
TRL stands for Technology Readiness Level, a scale used to assess how mature a technology is.
TRL 5–6: Technology validated or demonstrated in a relevant environment
TRL 7–8: System prototype demonstrated and approaching commercial deployment
The accelerator is designed for startups within TRL 5–8, where solutions are ready for piloting, market validation, and early commercialisation, rather than early-stage research or ideation.
Is the programme equity-free?
Yes. The programme is 100% equity-free. The Climate 4.0 Hub does not take equity in participating startups, allowing founders to retain full ownership while benefiting from tailored support, industry connections, and market access.
Is the programme free, and what costs do participants need to cover?
The programme itself is provided free of charge, including access to the coworking space. However, participating startups are responsible for their own expenses related to travel, accommodation, and day-to-day living costs while in Australia.
