Nice/New Delhi, 14 June (H.S.):

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday jointly inaugurated the Bharat Innovates 2026 event in Nice, underscoring the growing strategic partnership between India and France and their shared commitment to innovation, technology, entrepreneurship and future-focused economic cooperation.

The landmark event brought together leading startups, venture capital funds, investors, policymakers, researchers and technology leaders from India, France and several other countries. It marks the first time the Bharat Innovates platform has been hosted outside India, highlighting the increasing global appeal of India's innovation ecosystem.

Welcoming Prime Minister Modi to Nice, President Macron described India as a nation at the forefront of global innovation and praised the country's remarkable technological transformation under Modi's leadership. He said it was an honour for France to host Bharat Innovates and noted that India has emerged as one of the world's most dynamic centres of entrepreneurship, research and technological advancement.

Macron emphasized that India’s strength lies not only in its population of more than 1.4 billion people but also in its significant investments in education, research and skills development. He noted that India produces more than one million engineers annually and is rapidly expanding its capabilities in frontier technologies, innovation and scientific research.

Highlighting the deepening partnership between the two countries, Macron recalled the launch of the India-France Year of Innovation and said the central question today is no longer whether India will innovate, but who will innovate alongside India. He described the Bharat Innovates platform as an important opportunity to connect Indian startups with global investors, talent networks and strategic partners.

Prime Minister Modi, addressing the gathering, said the India-France relationship extends beyond traditional diplomatic and economic cooperation and is driven by a shared vision for the future. He noted that while many countries engage in trade and strategic partnerships, only a few relationships are built on common values, trust and long-term aspirations.

According to PM Modi, the India-France partnership is one such relationship, strengthened by collaboration in innovation, artificial intelligence, advanced technology, research, clean energy, defence and space exploration. He said both countries are working together to shape solutions for global challenges while creating opportunities for future generations.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi interacted with leading investors, venture capitalists and startup founders participating in the event. Bharat Innovates aims to identify, mentor and showcase promising Indian technology ventures emerging from higher education institutions and centrally funded technical institutes, while connecting them with a global network of investors, industry leaders, research organisations and technology partners.

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said the event reflects the growing depth of India-France cooperation in innovation and emerging technologies. He highlighted India's thriving startup ecosystem, which now includes more than 230,000 startups, and encouraged French businesses to expand partnerships, investments and manufacturing collaborations in India.

The inauguration of Bharat Innovates comes during Prime Minister Modi's five-day visit to France and Slovakia. During his stay in France, Modi is also expected to hold extensive bilateral discussions with President Macron, focusing on strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, technology, artificial intelligence, defence, space and other strategic sectors.

The event is being viewed as a significant step in elevating the India-France relationship, with both leaders presenting innovation as a key pillar of their expanding Special Global Strategic Partnership.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar