‘India Is a Country of Innovation’: Macron Praises India-France Tech Partnership

French President Emmanuel Macron Highlights Growing Collaboration in AI, Climate Change, and Nuclear Energy at Bharat Innovates 2026

Nice, France: French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday praised India as a global hub of innovation and reaffirmed the strong strategic partnership between India and France in emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, climate action, and clean energy sectors.

Speaking at the Bharat Innovates 2026 event alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Nice, Macron emphasized the growing collaboration between the two nations and highlighted India's rising influence in the global innovation ecosystem.

Macron Calls India a Nation of Innovation

Addressing entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and technology leaders at the event, Macron described India as a country that continues to drive innovation and technological advancement across multiple sectors.

“India is a country of innovation,” Macron said, while emphasizing that India and France share a strong partnership in critical areas including artificial intelligence, climate change, advanced technology, and sustainable development.

The French President also reiterated France’s support for India's manufacturing ambitions and acknowledged the success of the government's Make in India initiative.

“We respect the Make in India initiative. France has been part of it across diverse sectors,” Macron stated.

India-France Partnership Expanding Across Strategic Sectors

The remarks come at a time when India and France are deepening cooperation in several high-growth industries.

Both countries have increasingly collaborated in:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Climate technology
• Renewable energy
• Defense manufacturing
• Space technology
• Digital transformation
• Advanced research and innovation

Macron highlighted that the partnership is evolving beyond traditional sectors and increasingly focusing on future technologies that will shape global economic growth.

Opportunities in Civil Nuclear Energy and Small Modular Reactors

One of the key areas discussed during the event was civil nuclear cooperation.

Macron noted that there is significant potential to expand bilateral collaboration in the nuclear energy sector, particularly in the development of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), which are being viewed globally as a cleaner and more flexible alternative to conventional nuclear power plants.

The focus on nuclear energy aligns with both countries' efforts to strengthen energy security while reducing carbon emissions and supporting long-term sustainability goals.

Bharat Innovates 2026 Showcases India's Startup Ecosystem

Bharat Innovates 2026 serves as a flagship initiative of the Government of India aimed at promoting deep-tech startups, research-driven enterprises, and innovation-led businesses on the global stage.

The event brings together:

• Leading startups from India and Europe
• Venture capital firms
• Technology innovators
• Research institutions
• Industry experts
• Government representatives

The platform seeks to foster cross-border collaboration, attract global investment, and accelerate the growth of next-generation technologies.

As India continues to emerge as one of the world's fastest-growing startup ecosystems, initiatives like Bharat Innovates are expected to strengthen international partnerships and create new opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors.

PM Modi’s France Visit Focuses on Strategic Cooperation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently on an official visit to France, where he is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with President Macron and participate in the G7 Summit discussions.

The visit reflects the growing importance of India-France relations across strategic, economic, technological, and geopolitical dimensions.

Following his engagements in France, the Prime Minister will also undertake a two-day visit to Slovakia as part of his week-long diplomatic tour.

India Emerging as a Global Innovation Powerhouse

India’s expanding digital infrastructure, thriving startup ecosystem, strong talent pool, and government-backed innovation programs have positioned the country as one of the world's leading destinations for technology and entrepreneurship.

With growing international collaborations and increasing foreign investment in emerging technologies, India is rapidly strengthening its role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and deep-tech innovation.

Macron’s remarks at Bharat Innovates 2026 further underline the global recognition of India’s innovation-driven growth story and the expanding partnership between India and France in building future-ready technologies.