Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron launched the Bharat Innovates 2026 initiative on Sunday in Nice, France [1].
The partnership seeks to bridge the gap between Indian technical talent and European investment, potentially accelerating the growth of deep-tech sectors in both regions.
The conclave serves as a centerpiece for the India-France Year of Innovation 2026 [2]. It is designed to facilitate cooperation in critical emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and robotics [3]. By creating a structured pipeline for investment, the initiative intends to link Indian entrepreneurs with global investors and European capital [1].
During the event, Modi said that "Bharat Innovates is a bridge between India's talent and European capital" [1]. He said that the India-France partnership is built on "connection and conviction" [4].
President Macron highlighted India's role as a global leader in technology. Macron said that "India is a country of innovation" [2]. The French leader said the bilateral partnership is strong in areas beyond technology, specifically citing climate action, and nuclear energy [2].
The initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen the Special Global Strategic Partnership between the two nations [3]. This framework allows both countries to align their economic goals with technological advancement — a move intended to secure supply chains and foster joint research and development.
Modi said that innovation is embedded in India's DNA [4]. He said that India is ready to lead new possibilities through this collaboration [5].
“"Bharat Innovates is a bridge between India's talent and European capital"”
The launch of Bharat Innovates 2026 signals a shift from traditional defense and diplomatic cooperation toward a more integrated economic and technological alliance. By specifically targeting deep-tech and AI, India and France are positioning themselves to reduce reliance on other global tech hubs while leveraging India's massive developer pool and France's strategic capital and research infrastructure.
