Market understanding
- market and competitive context
- market mapping and target prioritisation
- Business France support and introductions
Flagship Accelerator Programme
A five-month accelerator built around Australian market entry.
The Flagship Accelerator Programme helps selected French climate-tech companies understand the Australian market, identify relevant opportunities and build local relationships.
It combines preparation, mentors, market mapping and specialist advice with an extended in-country phase focused on customers, industry, research and investors.
Operated by Swinburne University of Technology under FACET.
The details below describe the 2026 model. Final 2027 settings are still to be confirmed.
Is this the right kind of accelerator for your company?
It is designed for companies ready to test an Australian market-entry case.
This is not an early-stage idea accelerator.
The 2026 programme targeted Seed to Series B climate-tech companies, excluding pre-seed, with technologies at TRL 5 to 8 and genuine Australian market intent.
It supports companies with credible technology that need help understanding market fit, finding the right contacts and navigating Australia. It does not guarantee pilots, investment or expansion.
What you get
A market-entry programme, not a generic startup curriculum.
For the 2026 cohort, participants receive:
Commercial support
- business-development guidance
- customer and industry introductions
- investor readiness and introductions
- exploration of pilot pathways
Specialist advice
- legal setup, tax, grants and R&D tax incentives
- IP and relevant regulatory input
Research and technical connections
- Swinburne research capability
- researcher matching and technical expertise
Founder support
- Entrepreneurs in Residence
- two dedicated mentors per company
- specialist mentors and 1:1 support
Communication and showcase
- pitch coaching
- programme events and final Demo activity
The two phases
Launchpad first. Acceleration second.
Launchpad
Prepare for Australia through market-entry goals, target mapping, mentor matching, research scoping, specialist advice and business-development preparation.
Acceleration
Put that preparation to work through prospective-customer and partner meetings, research connections, industry and investor engagement, events and pitch preparation.
The in-country phase is based at Swinburne University of Technology in Hawthorn, Melbourne.
The five stages
A programme that gets more specific as it progresses.
-
Stage 1
Discovery
Define Australian goals, support needs, research interests and market priorities.
-
Stage 2
Design
Shape mentor support, research briefs, market mapping and targets around those priorities.
-
Stage 3
Virtual
Begin structured preparation with Entrepreneurs in Residence, dedicated mentors, researcher matching and Business France market development.
-
Stage 4
In-person
Focus on customers, industry partners, research, investors, events and company-specific meetings in Australia.
-
Stage 5
Demo
Present what has been learned, what should progress next and which conversations or partnerships are being sought.
How mentors are chosen
Mentor matching starts with the company, not the mentor list.
Companies are interviewed to identify goals and capability gaps. Potential mentors are selected against those needs and matched for fit.
Each 2026 company receives two dedicated mentors, with additional access to Entrepreneurs in Residence and specialist expertise.
Market mapping and introductions
Better introductions start with a better target list.
Business France supports the 2026 cohort to map relevant organisations, prioritise targets, identify decision-makers and pursue introductions.
-
Step 1
Understand
Establish the company’s Australian market priorities.
-
Step 2
Map
Map relevant organisations.
-
Step 3
Prioritise
Agree a priority target list.
-
Step 4
Identify
Identify relevant decision-makers.
-
Step 5
Introduce
Make targeted introductions.
Selection
Companies are assessed across technical and commercial readiness.
The inaugural cohort followed three months of scouting and two months of due diligence, supported by EDF power solutions Australia and Climate Tech Partners.
Assessment covered 16 categories across technical, commercial, financial, IP, market and team readiness. Swinburne Innovation Studio, Climate Tech Partners and EDF contributed different perspectives, with IP Group assessing intellectual property.
Six companies were selected.
Cost and equity
The programme itself is free and equity-free.
$0
programme fee
0%
equity taken
5
months of structured engagement
What participants pay for
What the commitment looks like
Participants cover travel, accommodation and living costs.
Cohort companies become eligible for consideration by Swinburne Ventures Limited. This is not an investment commitment.
The 2026 model runs for five months, including virtual preparation and a substantial in-country period, with mentoring, workshops, customer meetings, research and investor engagement, events and pitch preparation.
The primary company representative must have authority to progress commercial discussions.
Time away from the business
The primary representative needs to participate actively in Australia while remaining able to make company decisions.
Common questions
What applicants ask most
What is the Climate 4.0 Hub Flagship Accelerator Programme?
It is a five-month accelerator helping selected French climate-tech companies prepare for and enter the Australian market. The programme combines market preparation, mentor support, specialist advice, research and industry connections with an extended in-country phase in Australia.
Who runs it?
The programme is operated by Swinburne University of Technology 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.
Who is it for?
The 2026 programme was designed for eligible French-connected climate-tech companies from Seed to Series B, excluding pre-seed, with technology at TRL 5 to 8 and a genuine intention to enter the Australian market.
Is this an early-stage startup accelerator?
No. The 2026 programme excluded pre-seed companies and targeted technologies at TRL 5 to 8. It is designed for companies ready for market validation and commercial engagement rather than early ideation.
Are applications open?
No. Applications for the 2026 Flagship Accelerator Programme are closed. Register interest for 2027 to hear when the next intake is announced.
Can I register interest even if I am not sure I am eligible?
Yes. Registering interest is not an application and does not guarantee eligibility or selection. Final 2027 eligibility criteria have not yet been published.
My company is not headquartered in France. Could we still qualify?
Under the 2026 criteria, a company in the Indo-Pacific region could also qualify where it had a French passport-holding founder and at least 60% French ownership.
What does TRL 5 to 8 mean?
TRL stands for Technology Readiness Level. TRL 5 to 6 means a technology has been validated or demonstrated in a relevant environment. TRL 7 to 8 means a system prototype has been demonstrated and is approaching commercial deployment.
What support is included?
The 2026 programme includes market mapping, Business France support, two dedicated mentors, Entrepreneurs in Residence, legal, tax, grants and company-setup sessions, IP input, research connections, industry and customer introductions, investor-readiness support, investor introductions, relevant industry events and pitch coaching.
How are mentors chosen?
Companies are interviewed to identify their goals and gaps. Potential mentors are selected against those needs, then matched with the team. For the 2026 programme, each company receives two dedicated mentors.
How are industry introductions made?
The programme combines partner networks with structured market development. For the 2026 cohort, Business France supports market mapping and prospecting before companies prioritise target organisations and introductions are pursued.
Can the programme help us find pilots?
The programme can help companies explore pilot, demonstration and proof-of-concept opportunities with relevant partners. A pilot is not guaranteed.
Can the programme help us find investors?
Investor readiness and investor introductions form part of the programme. Investment is not guaranteed. Cohort companies also become eligible for consideration by Swinburne Ventures Limited.
How long is the programme?
The 2026 Flagship Accelerator Programme runs for five months.
How much time do I need to spend in Australia?
The current programme model includes approximately three months of in-country activity.
Does the founder have to attend?
The current programme requires a founder or salaried team member to act as the primary programme representative. That person needs enough authority to progress partnerships, pilots and market-entry discussions.
Where is the programme based?
The Australian phase is based at Swinburne University of Technology in Hawthorn, Melbourne. The current published address is 16 Wakefield Street, Hawthorn VIC 3122, Australia.
Can I participate remotely?
The programme includes virtual activity, but the current model also requires a substantial in-country period. It is not designed as a fully remote accelerator.
Is the programme free?
Yes. The programme itself is free of charge. Participants cover their own travel, accommodation and day-to-day living costs in Australia.
Does Climate 4.0 Hub take equity?
No. The programme is 100% equity-free.
Is accommodation included?
Participants are responsible for accommodation costs.
What support is available while I am in Australia?
The 2026 programme is cohort-based and includes regular Entrepreneur in Residence meetings, dedicated mentors, programme events and shared in-person activity.
How are companies selected?
The 2026 intake used a structured assessment process covering 16 categories across technical readiness, commercial viability, intellectual property, market maturity, financial factors, competition, team and governance, and startup readiness. Swinburne Innovation Studio, Climate Tech Partners and EDF power solutions Australia contributed different assessment perspectives, with IP Group assessing intellectual property.
How many companies are selected?
Six companies were selected for the inaugural 2026 cohort.
Thinking about Australia in 2027?
Register interest and we will let you know when the next intake is announced.