FACET Grants
FACET is committed to supporting innovative projects and programs that accelerate the energy transition, encouraging collaborations involving academia, industry, government and startups that benefit France, Australia and the Indo-Pacific region, through a Grant program that aligns with FACET’s mission and objectives.
FACET Grants 2026: Expressions of Interest open!
FACET invites expressions of interest for its third round of funding – the Collaborative Industry & Research Grant – aimed at supporting high-impact, deployable projects that advance the energy transition.
The 2026 grant round seeks to highlight practical, industry-relevant solutions with measurable outcomes.
Projects must involve both French and Australian entities, and inclusion of Indo-Pacific partners is encouraged.
Expressions of Interest (EOI) open on 24 November 2025 and close on 27 February 2026.
Grant program focus
Priority will be given to proposals that demonstrate strong potential as case studies and address one or more of these focus areas:
- Decarbonisation of transport and heavy industry, including Biofuels / e-fuels or Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF)
- Decarbonisation of electricity systems, including grid systems
- Critical minerals for the energy transition
Other topics aligned with FACET's mission will also be considered.
Timelines and process
Stage 1: Expression of Interest & Assessment
- Call opens – 24th November 2025
- EOIs – due date 27th February 2026
- Internal assessment of eligible EOIs – March 2026
- Notification of outcomes for EOIs – 30th March 2026
Stage 2: Full Proposal & Review
- Opens by invitation – 30th March 2026
- Opportunity for feedback – April / May 2026
- Full Proposal due date – 29th May 2026
- Independent external review of Proposals – June 2026
- Notification of outcomes – by 30 June 2026
Grant eligibility criteria
Can you apply?
To be considered eligible for a grant, projects must meet these requirements:
- One French and one Australian partner
- At least 50% co-funding (including at least half in cash i.e. 25% of total budget)
- Projects should demonstrate clear industry relevance.
Grant evaluation criteria
How is your application ranked?
Your application will be evaluated against the following core components of FACET’s mission.
Bilateral Partnership
- Must include at least one French partner
- Must include at least one Australian partner
- Must demonstrate how the partners support the scope of the project (e.g. capabilities, mix and experience) and develop the Franco-Australian relationship/ecosystem.
Project Relevance
The proposal should align with FACET’s call, addressing one or more of these areas:
- Decarbonisation of transport and heavy industry, including Biofuels / e-fuels or Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF)
- Decarbonisation of electricity systems, including grid systems
- Critical minerals for the energy transition
Other topics aligned with FACET’s mission will also be considered.
Indo-Pacific Engagement
- Projects integrating an Indo-Pacific dimension are of strong interest to FACET whenever relevant to the grant program focus.
- The involvement of an Indo-Pacific partner or projects with an impact on the Indo-Pacific is not mandatory but will be considered favourably.
Industry Focus
- The proposed project should demonstrate strong potential for industry impact and support the energy transition. This may involve deploying well-established knowledge in a practical configuration, rather than presenting scientific novelty.
- Projects should demonstrate clear industry relevance either by applying well-established knowledge in a practical configuration or through strategic industrial research, aiming for example but not limited to developing new demonstrators, and strengthen resilient strategic capabilities for France and Australia in the energy transition.
Funding Requirements
The requested funding should be appropriate to deliver the project and must meet the 50% co-investment requirement, 25% of total budget to be provided in cash.
Timeframe for completion
Due to the high impact nature of preferred projects, FACET is looking for projects of approximately one year or less.
Expression of Interest
Click here for the EOI template for the Collaborative Industry & Research Grant 2026 and email the completed form to info@franceaustraliaenergy.com
Two Stage Assessment
Stage 1: EOI Assessment
- All eligible applications will undergo a first internal review within FACET on the evaluation criteria.
- EOI outcomes will be communicated on 30 March 2026.
- A template will be provided to selected projects for the Full Proposal.
- Assessment of Full Proposals will be based on the grant evaluation criteria.
Stage 2: Full Proposal Review
- Full Proposals will be reviewed externally by two independent reviewers:
- One from an Australian entity
- One from a French entity
- Each project will be ranked against the grant evaluation criteria, and the rankings will be submitted to FACET committees.
- There will be an opportunity for feedback on the Full Proposals from the FACET team.
What level of support will FACET’s Round 3 Grant offer?
FACET can supply seed funding typically in the range from AUD100,000 to AUD500,000 maximum.
