Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a speech at the VivaTech Summit in Paris to outline a vision for India-France technology cooperation [1].
The address marks a strategic push to integrate the two nations' research and startup ecosystems. By focusing on artificial intelligence and deep tech, the partnership aims to accelerate digital transformation across both economies during the India-France Year of Innovation [1, 2].
Modi said at the Paris event, which is recognized as Europe's largest technology and startup gathering, that AI is shaping global development and collaborative frameworks are necessary to manage these advancements [1].
The Prime Minister emphasized the need for joint ventures in research and development. This cooperation is intended to benefit startups in both India and France, allowing them to scale technologies more effectively through shared expertise [1, 2].
The initiative focuses on several key pillars, including deep tech and the broader digital economy. By aligning their technological goals, India and France seek to create a robust corridor for innovation that spans from software development to hardware engineering [1, 2].
Modi said the collaboration is a central component of the India-France Year of Innovation. The framework is designed to strengthen bilateral ties beyond traditional diplomacy, moving toward a technical alliance that addresses contemporary challenges in computing and automation [1, 2].
“India and France seek to create a robust corridor for innovation.”
This diplomatic push signifies India's intent to diversify its technological partnerships beyond the U.S. and East Asia. By leveraging France's position as a European tech hub, India can gain strategic access to EU research standards and deep tech investment, while France gains a massive digital market and a growing pool of AI talent.
