Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday jointly inaugurated the maiden edition of Bharat Innovates 2026 at the Palais des Expositions de Nice in France, marking a significant step in strengthening innovation-led collaboration between India and global stakeholders.
Organised by the Government of India under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Education, Bharat Innovates 2026 has been positioned as a flagship platform to promote partnerships between India’s DeepTech ecosystem and international investors, industries, academic institutions and innovators.
Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal welcomed the dignitaries at the event. Union Minister for External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India Dr. Ajay Kumar Sood were among the senior officials present at the inauguration.
India’s innovation leadership in focus
Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted India’s growing prominence as a global innovation hub. “Bharat innovates with scale and speed. Bharat innovates for a sustainable future, and Bharat innovates for the whole world. Innovation is in India’s DNA. Bharat Innovates is an invitation to the world to co-create the next chapter of global innovation with India,” he said.
French President Emmanuel Macron praised India’s dynamic innovation ecosystem and described the event as a symbol of the deepening strategic partnership between the two nations.
He said hosting the first-ever Bharat Innovates event outside India in Nice reflected the strength of India-France ties and underscored the vast opportunities for future collaboration across scientific, entrepreneurial and industrial domains.
Innovation pavilion showcases cutting-edge technologies
Following the inauguration, the two leaders toured the Bharat Innovates Innovation Pavilion, which features 120 advanced technologies and breakthrough innovations developed by Indian startups, innovators and leading higher education institutions.
The exhibits span a wide range of sectors including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, biotechnology, healthcare, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, mobility and space technologies.
The showcase is aimed at connecting Indian innovators with global investors, corporations, research institutions and technology partners.
Platform to foster global partnerships
Bharat Innovates seeks to strengthen bilateral cooperation between India and France in science, technology, education, innovation and entrepreneurship while enhancing India’s integration into global innovation networks.
The three-day event, scheduled from June 14 to June 16, 2026, features 11 high-level panel discussions, sector-specific masterclasses, curated B2B meetings, investor pitch sessions involving more than 50 startups and dedicated networking engagements.
The programme has brought together global industry leaders, venture capital investors, academics, policymakers and technology experts to explore opportunities across artificial intelligence, semiconductors, biotechnology, healthcare, energy, advanced manufacturing, space, defence and climate technologies.
Strengthening India-France innovation ecosystem
The inaugural edition of Bharat Innovates reflects the shared commitment of India and France to build a future-ready innovation ecosystem driven by collaboration, talent development and transformative technologies.
The event is expected to create new avenues for cross-border investments, technology partnerships and research collaborations, further strengthening the strategic relationship between the two countries.