India and France bolstered their strategic partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit, signing key agreements in technology, civil nuclear energy, environmental sustainability, and cultural affairs.
In the field of technology and innovation, India and France issued a declaration on artificial intelligence and launched the India-France Year of Innovation 2026 logo.
A letter of intent was signed between India’s Department of Science and Technology (DST) and France’s INRIA to establish the Indo-French Center for Digital Sciences. Additionally, an agreement was reached to host 10 Indian startups at Station F, France’s leading startup incubator.
The two countries also strengthened their civil nuclear energy collaboration with multiple agreements. These included a declaration of intent to establish a partnership on advanced modular reactors and small modular reactors, a renewal of the memorandum of understanding between India’s Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and France’s CAE for cooperation with the Global Center for Nuclear Energy Partnership (GCNEP), and an implementing agreement between DAE and CEA on cooperation between GCNEP India and France’s Institute for Nuclear Science and Technology (INSTN).
In the Indo-Pacific and sustainable development sectors, both nations signed a joint declaration of intent on triangular development cooperation, furthering their commitment to regional growth.
Environmental cooperation was also a key focus, with a declaration of intent signed between the environment ministries of both countries to work together on ecological transition, biodiversity, forests, and marine conservation.
The visit also emphasized people-to-people and cultural ties, with the joint inauguration of India’s Consulate in Marseille, enhancing diplomatic engagement in southern France.
