Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron launched the Bharat Innovates 2026 event in Nice, France, on Sunday.
The meeting signals a strategic push to integrate Indian technological entrepreneurship with European markets. By showcasing deep-tech capabilities, both nations aim to strengthen bilateral cooperation in innovation and address shared global challenges.
The leaders held bilateral talks at Villa Kerylos before opening the three-day [1] event. The showcase focuses on the growth of the Indian tech ecosystem and its potential for international partnership.
Bharat Innovates 2026 features approximately 120 [2] Indian deep-tech start-ups. These companies are presenting their technologies to industry leaders and innovators to foster investment and joint research ventures.
The interaction between Modi and Macron emphasized a commitment to technological sovereignty and cooperation. The event serves as a platform for Indian innovators to engage directly with French industrial interests, a move intended to diversify supply chains and tech dependencies.
Officials said the collaboration is part of a broader effort to align the strategic interests of India and France in the fields of science and emerging technology. The three-day [1] schedule includes networking sessions and demonstrations of cutting-edge hardware and software solutions.
“Bharat Innovates 2026 features approximately 120 Indian deep-tech start-ups.”
The launch of Bharat Innovates 2026 represents a shift from traditional defense and aerospace cooperation toward a more granular partnership in deep-tech and venture capital. By positioning 120 Indian start-ups in France, India is attempting to transition from a service-provider hub to a product-innovation leader on the global stage, while France seeks to tap into India's rapidly scaling tech talent pool.
