Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron jointly inaugurated the first edition of Bharat Innovates 2026 at the Palais des Expositions in Nice, France, marking a major step in strengthening India–Europe cooperation in innovation, research and emerging technologies.
Organised by the Government of India through the Ministry of Education, the event brings together over 120 Indian innovators, more than 15 higher education institutions, and over 500 global stakeholders, including investors, industry leaders, academics and policymakers.
A key outcome of the opening day was the signing of more than 30 partnerships, including innovation-focused Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and joint declarations aimed at accelerating research collaboration, startup growth, technology commercialisation and academic exchanges.
Stakeholders from India and Europe highlighted the need for trusted artificial intelligence, stronger cross-border innovation ecosystems and deeper university-industry partnerships.
Infosys founder N. R. Narayana Murthy, delivering a keynote address, underscored the importance of higher education institutions in nurturing value-driven entrepreneurs and technology leaders capable of translating knowledge into innovation and long-term societal impact.
The event also witnessed new collaborations between Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and French universities, alongside the launch of the India-France ATL Bridge initiative to foster innovation among school students in both countries.
Over 30 Partnerships Signed
Bharat Innovates 2026 serves as a showcase of India’s rapidly expanding deep-tech ecosystem and its growing global ambitions. The event features innovations across 13 sectors, including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, biotechnology, healthcare, advanced computing, energy technologies, space technology and advanced manufacturing.
According to organisers, the platform aims to connect Indian innovators with global capital, expertise and markets while creating opportunities for collaborative research and technology development.
Among the most significant announcements were 12 agreements between Indian higher education institutions and incubators and their French and international counterparts to support entrepreneurship, innovation exchanges and joint research programmes.
Another 16 agreements were signed with leading global corporations to facilitate technology development, commercialisation and market access for Indian startups and innovators. Speaking at the event, Narayana Murthy reflected on Infosys’ journey from a modest startup founded with just USD 250 into a globally recognised technology company.
He emphasised that enduring enterprises are built on “complementary talent, shared values, disciplined innovation, transparent governance and trust,” adding that universities and research institutions have a critical role in shaping founders who can convert “knowledge into innovation, innovation into enterprise, and enterprise into long-term societal impact.”
Discussions during the event also centred on building trusted and inclusive artificial intelligence ecosystems. During the plenary session titled “AI for Global Good: Building a Corridor for Trusted, Inclusive and Scalable AI,” participants from industry, academia, venture capital and policy circles advocated collaborative approaches to AI development, highlighting the importance of transparency, accountability, sovereign technological capabilities and open-source innovation.
Building An Innovation Corridor
The inaugural edition of Bharat Innovates 2026 reflects a broader trend of deepening strategic ties between India and Europe in technology, education and research. In recent years, India has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing startup ecosystems, supported by public investment, incubation programmes and expanding global investor interest.
The partnerships announced in Nice seek to build on this momentum by strengthening international innovation corridors and enabling Indian innovators to access global expertise and markets. Academic collaboration formed another important pillar of the event, with 13 French universities signing partnership agreements with 11 IITs and IISc.
These agreements focus on student mobility, joint research projects, talent development and innovation support, particularly in frontier areas such as AI, semiconductors, sustainability and biotechnology. The launch of the India-France ATL Bridge, a collaboration between NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission and La Foundation Dassault Systèmes, further extends cooperation to younger generations.
The initiative will establish France’s first School Innovation Lab based on India’s Atal Tinkering Lab model and encourage collaborative projects between Indian and French students.
Sessions such as “India and Europe: Deep Tech Without Borders” and “Global Deep-Tech Capital Corridors” explored challenges around venture financing, regulatory alignment, technology transfer and commercialisation, highlighting the need for long-term partnerships between governments, academia and industry. Together, these developments position Bharat Innovates as a potential cornerstone of future India–Europe innovation diplomacy.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Bharat Innovates 2026 demonstrates how international cooperation can move beyond diplomacy and trade to focus on solving shared global challenges through knowledge, innovation and human ingenuity. While technological advancement often dominates headlines through discussions of competition and geopolitical rivalry, the conversations emerging from Nice highlight an alternative vision rooted in collaboration, research partnerships and the responsible use of technology for public good.
The emphasis on trusted artificial intelligence, student exchanges, open innovation and cross-border entrepreneurship offers an encouraging reminder that scientific progress can be most impactful when it is inclusive, ethical and accessible.
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