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has named six French climate technology companies as the inaugural cohort of its program, helping move leading French climate founders into real market entry in Australia.

The Climate 4.0 Hub, operated by ��õ������ University of Technology and hosted at our Hawthorn campus, is a key initiative in FACET’s Franco-Australian climate partnerships.

FACET is co-led by French research organisation CEA, ��õ������ and Université Grenoble-Alpes, and strengthens collaboration on sustainable energy initiatives while supporting energy transition needs in the Indo-Pacific region.

The inaugural Flagship Accelerator cohort includes startups tackling critical challenges in global clean energy transition across solar panel recycling, hydrogen innovation, industrial decarbonisation and smart building efficiency. 

• helps industrial companies and critical infrastructure operators unlock new revenue, improve energy resilience and accelerate decarbonisation by turning battery systems into revenue-generating energy assets. 

• is an AI-powered marketplace that matches buildings with GreenTech and Green Funds to enable decarbonisation.

• is a high-impact industrial deep tech startup offering new decentralised electricity for mobility (land/air/sea) and stationary apps. 

• delivers competitive, low-carbon industrial heat by replacing gas boilers with renewable electricity that would otherwise be curtailed, storing it as heat for use on demand. 

• develops solutions that enable the deployment and optimisation of renewable energy projects. 

• is a French cleantech company specialised in the high-value recycling of end-of-life photovoltaic modules.

Founders will take part in a two-phase program over five months, delivered by the ��õ������ Innovation Studio, with the first offshore phase covering market entry mentoring, competitive landscape insights, and legal and grant support.  

The startups will then spend three months on the ground in Melbourne at ��õ������ in the intensive accelerator phase, focused on commercialisation and investor readiness, with direct partner and customer access.

Through the Hub and its Flagship Accelerator program, leading French climate innovators will be connected to the growing Australian market, industry networks and research capability. 

Sarah Cumming, Co-Director of FACET, said the program was purpose-built to help French climate founders navigate Australia's rapidly growing clean energy market.

“Australia is one of the world’s fastest-growing climate markets, and French innovators are exceptionally well positioned to contribute to its momentum,” she said.

“The selection of this inaugural cohort reflects both the depth and excellence of French climate innovation and the strength of the Franco-Australian collaboration in advancing shared energy transition priorities. We look forward to the partnerships that will emerge through the Climate 4.0 Hub.”  

Heath Evans, Associate Director of the Climate 4.0 Hub, said the startups represent a comprehensive response to the challenges of the energy transition. 

“What excites me about this cohort is the breadth from solar recycling and long duration storage to hydrogen, industrial decarbonisation and smart buildings,” he said. 

Startups will be immersed within ��õ������ Innovation Studio’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, with access to world-class researchers and industry connections across clean energy, decarbonisation and climate resilience.

“Over the next five months we will be connecting these founders with the partners, investors and industries that can turn that opportunity into real outcomes.”

These companies will also become eligible for investment opportunities through ��õ������ Ventures Limited, ensuring they have everything they need to scale their climate solutions into Australia.

About FACET

Established in 2023, is a historic France-Australia climate change partnership, jointly funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. 

FACET is designed to deepen bilateral cooperation through strategic research and innovation in sustainable and inclusive energy systems, while also supporting energy transition efforts across the Indo-Pacific region.

It is co-led by the CEA, Université Grenoble Alpes, and ��õ������ – which also hosts the centre at ��õ������’s Hawthorn campus.