Modi, Macron Launch Bharat Innovates 2026 in France, Deepening Indo-French Deep Tech Partnership

Nice (France): Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron jointly inaugurated the maiden edition of Bharat Innovates 2026 in Nice on Sunday, marking a significant step towards strengthening the strategic technology partnership between India and France.

Organised by the Ministry of Education, the three-day event serves as a global platform for connecting India’s rapidly growing deep-tech ecosystem with international investors, industry leaders, research institutions and policymakers.

The inaugural ceremony at the Palais des Expositions de Nice was attended by commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Principal Scientific Advisor Ajay Kumar Sood and senior officials from both countries.

Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Modi highlighted India’s emergence as a global innovation powerhouse.

“Bharat innovates with scale and speed. Bharat innovates for a sustainable future, and Bharat innovates for the whole world. Innovation is in India’s DNA. Bharat Innovates is an invitation to the world to co-create the next chapter of global innovation with India,” he said.

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President Macron described the hosting of the first-ever Bharat Innovates event outside India as a reflection of the growing strength of Indo-French relations.

He said the event demonstrated the depth of the long-standing technological, scientific and industrial partnership between the two countries and underscored the opportunities for future collaboration driven by scientific, entrepreneurial and industrial excellence.

Following the inauguration, the two leaders toured the Bharat Innovates Innovation Pavilion, which features 120 cutting-edge technologies and breakthrough innovations developed by Indian startups, innovators and premier higher education institutions.

The showcased innovations span sectors including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, biotechnology, healthcare, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, mobility and space technologies.

Bharat Innovates has been conceived as a flagship international platform to promote Indian deep-tech capabilities and facilitate partnerships with global investors, corporations, academic institutions and innovation ecosystems.

The event is expected to strengthen bilateral cooperation in science, technology, innovation, education and entrepreneurship while enhancing India’s integration into global innovation networks.

Scheduled from June 14 to 16, the programme includes 11 high-level panel discussions, sector-focused masterclasses, business-to-business matchmaking sessions, investor engagement forums and networking opportunities involving global stakeholders.

More than 50 startups are participating in dedicated investor pitch sessions, presenting innovations across artificial intelligence, semiconductors, biotechnology, healthcare, energy, advanced manufacturing, defence, space and climate technologies.

Industry leaders, venture capital firms, researchers, university representatives and policymakers from multiple countries are taking part in discussions on emerging technologies and future innovation opportunities.

Officials said the inaugural edition of Bharat Innovates reflects the shared commitment of India and France to building a future-ready innovation ecosystem powered by collaboration, talent development and transformative technologies.

The initiative is expected to open new avenues for technology partnerships, research collaborations, startup investments and cross-border innovation programmes between the two countries.