PM Modi and French President Macron jointly inaugurate ‘Bharat Innovates 2026’ conclave, event to bring startups and investors from across the world together

PM Modi is on his visit to France.
PM Modi in France (X/ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with French President Emmanuel Macron, on Sunday (June 14, 2026) inaugurated the ‘Bharat Innovates 2026’ conclave in Nice. The event brought together leading startups, innovators and venture capital funds from India, France and several other countries. The two leaders displayed mutual warmth as they greeted and hugged each other ahead of a bilateral engagement.

Bharat Innovates, a three-day event, brings together Indian deep-tech start-ups, innovators, researchers and investors with global innovation funds and footprint. During the event, India will display its premier deep technology at the global stage by presenting 120 pathbreaking start-ups and over 20 Institutes of Excellence across 13 critical technology pillars of global importance. More than 350 top investors and venture capitalists from across the world are also participating in the event.

Speaking at the event, PM Modi described the India-France relationship as driven by connection, conviction, innovation, inspiration, shared values and shared vision. He highlighted Indo-French initiatives, including the International Solar Alliance, those relating to fields of Artificial Intelligence and promotion of stability and security in the Indo-Pacific.

“…Based on the foundation of this relationship, we have together launched new initiatives and guided new ideas in the past few years. We have also made all efforts to find solutions to global challenges. Be it the International Solar Alliance, AI-related dialogues, or our partnership from security to sustainability – meaning, our two nations have worked together in finding solutions to challenges related to humanity. In February this year, the India-France Year of Innovation was started. I am delighted that today we are inaugurating ‘Bharat Innovates’ with France…” PM Modi said.

Talking about India’s innovation journey, PM Modi said that innovation is in India’s DNA and the country has emerged as a contributor to solutions in the world. “Innovation is deeply embedded in India’s DNA. For thousands of years, Bharat has guided the world with its breakthroughs and wisdom. From mathematics to astronomy, and from medicine to yoga, Bharat’s contributions have been foundational to all of humanity. Today, we are building upon this rich heritage, giving it renewed direction and momentum,” PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister asserted that India’s young innovators are creating solutions that can benefit the entire humanity. “India innovates with speed and scale. India innovates for a sustainable future. India innovates for the world,” the Prime Minister said.

PM Modi said inclusion and innovation are not contrary to each other. “Innovation and inclusion are not enemies, but they complement each other. Innovation becomes great not due to its valuation but due to its human impact,” PM Modi said.

Addressing the conclave, President Emmanuel Macron started by congratulating PM Modi on completing 12 years of his tenure as the Prime Minister of India.

He praised India’s Make-in-India initiative and expressed pleasure over France’s participation in diverse sectors connected with the initiative. “India is a country of innovation. India and France have a true partnership in critical sectors like AI and climate change,” President Macron said, praising India-France ties.

“India is advancing rapidly in research, innovation and frontier technologies, and is emerging as a global innovation leader,” Macron said, adding that “the question was not whether India is innovating, but who will innovate with India”. The French President stated that there was great scope for the expansion of bilateral relations between the two countries.

Written by OpIndia Staff
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