Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron jointly inaugurated the Bharat Innovates 2026 conclave in Nice, France, on Sunday.

The event serves as a strategic bridge to strengthen bilateral ties between India and France while showcasing Indian deep-tech capabilities to a global audience. By hosting the summit in Europe, India aims to attract significant foreign investment and foster technical partnerships in high-growth sectors.

Organizers said the summit is the largest Indian DeepTech event ever held outside of India [1]. The conclave brings together a diverse group of academic and professional stakeholders to promote innovation and cross-border collaboration. Among the participants are 120 Indian innovators [1] and representatives from 15 higher education institutions [1].

The summit is designed to connect these innovators with capital and strategic partners. More than 500 investors are expected to attend the event [1], a scale intended to accelerate the commercialization of Indian deep-tech research on the international stage.

Prime Minister Modi's visit to France coincides with the G7 summit, integrating the DeepTech showcase into a broader diplomatic agenda. The joint inauguration with President Macron signals a high-level commitment from both nations to synchronize their technological goals and economic interests.

The focus on deep-tech, which involves significant scientific advances and high-risk research, reflects a shift in India's export strategy. Rather than focusing solely on software services, the initiative emphasizes the export of hard-tech intellectual property and industrial innovation.

“The largest Indian DeepTech event ever held outside of India”

This summit represents a shift in India's diplomatic and economic strategy, moving from a service-oriented model toward a deep-tech leadership role. By leveraging the French partnership and the visibility of the G7 summit, India is positioning its academic and startup ecosystems to integrate more deeply with European capital and research networks.