Climate 4.0 Hub
The Climate 4.0 Hub Flagship Accelerator Programme helps selected French climate-tech companies prepare for the Australian market and build relationships with industry, research and investors.
Operated by Swinburne University of Technology under FACET, a bilateral initiative jointly funded by the Australian and French governments.
Applications for 2026 are closed. The inaugural cohort is underway.
The programme in short
The programme is designed for climate-tech companies beyond the earliest stage and considering Australian market entry.
Over five months, companies prepare for the market, identify priority contacts and spend an extended period in Australia meeting relevant organisations.
It is free of charge and 100% equity-free. Participants cover travel, accommodation and living costs.
The Hub gives Australian industry, investors and research organisations a structured way to meet selected French climate-tech companies entering the market.
Partners can share expertise, make introductions and explore pilots, demonstrations, investment or other commercial opportunities.
Partnerships are strategic and non-financial.
What startups get
For the 2026 cohort, support includes:
The aim is to help each company understand where its technology fits, who it needs to meet and what an Australian market-entry pathway could look like.
What partners get
The inaugural cohort has been through structured scouting, due diligence and assessment.
Partners can:
Partnerships are strategic and non-financial.
Who is behind Climate 4.0 Hub
Climate 4.0 Hub operates under FACET, the Franco-Australian Indo-Pacific Centre for Energy Transition.
FACET is jointly funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and co-led by CEA, Université Grenoble Alpes and Swinburne University of Technology.
Swinburne operates the Flagship Accelerator Programme in Melbourne.
How the programme works
Discovery → Design → Virtual → In-person → Demo
Prepare through market mapping, mentor support, research scoping and specialist guidance.
Spend the main in-country phase meeting customers and partners, working with researchers and progressing priority opportunities.
2026 cohort
The 2026 cohort spans battery systems, building decarbonisation, hydrogen, industrial heat, concentrated solar thermal and photovoltaic recycling.
High-value recycling of photovoltaic modules and manufacturing waste.
Decentralised hydrogen power for mobility and stationary applications.
Renewable electricity stored as industrial heat.
Concentrated solar thermal for industrial heat and electricity.
Battery asset optimisation for industrial and critical infrastructure.
Building decarbonisation technology and financing.
The people supporting the companies
Each 2026 company works with two dedicated mentors and Entrepreneurs in Residence, supported by specialist expertise, Swinburne research capability and Business France market-entry support.
News and events
The six companies were announced at VivaTech in Paris in June 2026.
FACET has named six French climate technology companies as the inaugural cohort of the Climate 4.0 Hub Flagship Accelerator Programme, helping leading…
Swinburne University of Technology has appointed Gordon Chakaodza as a Co-Director of FACET, the Franco-Australian Indo-Pacific Centre for Energy Transition, under which…
Applications for the first Climate 4.0 Hub Flagship Accelerator cohort opened on 23 February 2026, under the call for bold climate and…
Register interest to hear when the next Flagship Accelerator Programme intake is announced. Australian organisations can also discuss partnership with the Hub.
