Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Bharat Innovates 2026 conclave in Nice, France, to position India as a global innovation hub [1].
This initiative signals India's intent to shift from a service-oriented tech economy to a leader in deep-tech innovation. By partnering with France, India seeks to attract significant foreign investment and strengthen bilateral ties in entrepreneurship, and technology [1, 2, 5].
During the event, Modi addressed global investors and highlighted the growth of the Indian startup landscape. He said the country is set to lead the next global startup boom, supported by a network of more than 200,000 startups [6].
The launch in Nice was complemented by a parallel investor showcase held in Bengaluru, India [1, 3]. That event focused on a select group of 24 deep-tech startups [4]. These companies were presented to international investors as examples of India's capacity to move research from laboratories to global markets [5].
President Emmanuel Macron co-hosted the launch, emphasizing the strategic partnership between the two nations. The collaboration focuses on integrating Indian entrepreneurial talent with French industrial expertise to drive technological breakthroughs [1, 2].
Modi said that the deep-tech ecosystem will be the next primary driver of global innovation. The effort includes roadshows and investor meetings designed to bridge the gap between early-stage Indian research and international venture capital [5].
“India is set to lead the next global startup boom”
The Bharat Innovates 2026 initiative represents a strategic pivot for India to attract 'patient capital' for deep-tech, which requires longer development cycles than traditional software apps. By leveraging the France-India partnership, New Delhi is attempting to validate its startup ecosystem on the global stage and reduce reliance on domestic markets for scaling high-tech ventures.
