Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron will jointly inaugurate Bharat Innovates 2026 in Nice on Sunday, highlighting the growing innovation partnership between India and France.
The event, organised by the Ministry of Education under the India-France Year of Innovation, is expected to serve as a major platform for connecting Indian start-ups, researchers and innovators with global investors, industry leaders and technology partners.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Nice on Saturday, commencing the France leg of his two-nation visit. During his stay, he is also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with President Macron to review progress made since the elevation of India-France ties to a Special Global Strategic Partnership earlier this year and discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest.
Bharat Innovates 2026 will bring together around 120 Indian innovators, nearly 15 higher education institutions and more than 500 investors, including venture capital firms, leading corporations, global chief executives and industry leaders.
The event will focus on 13 strategic sectors, including advanced computing, semiconductors, space technology, biotechnology, energy, healthcare and advanced manufacturing, showcasing India’s expanding innovation and deep-tech ecosystem.
In his departure statement, Prime Minister Modi described Bharat Innovates as a landmark initiative aimed at strengthening innovation-led cooperation between India and France.
“This landmark event, being held against the backdrop of the India-France Year of Innovation, will connect India’s most promising start-ups with global investment and serve as a major accelerator for innovations emerging from India’s higher education ecosystem,” the Prime Minister said.
The inaugural edition of the event is expected to generate new opportunities for collaboration in deep technology, research and development, start-up growth and cross-border investments. Several announcements and partnership initiatives are also expected during the programme.
According to organisers, Bharat Innovates 2026 is designed to facilitate interactions between innovators, academic institutions, investors, corporations, universities, research organisations and government stakeholders. The platform aims to support technology validation, co-development projects, pilot programmes, manufacturing partnerships and international market expansion for Indian innovations.
The event will also explore new avenues for institutional collaboration between Indian and French innovation ecosystems, with a focus on technology transfer, co-development and commercialisation of emerging technologies.
Bharat Innovates 2026 is being held under the aegis of the India-France Year of Innovation, launched jointly by Prime Minister Modi and President Macron in Mumbai in February 2026.
Following his arrival in Nice, the Prime Minister received a traditional cultural welcome featuring a special performance titled “Echoes of Tradition, Spirits of Innovation”. The presentation brought together Kathak, Odissi and Bharatanatyam dance forms, celebrating India’s cultural heritage and its spirit of innovation.
After concluding his engagements in Nice, Prime Minister Modi will travel to Slovakia for a two-day State Visit before returning to France to participate in the G7 Summit in Evian on June 16 and 17.
-ANI
