India's Deeptech Push in France
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to France from June 13 to 18, 2026, is set to place India's deep technology aspirations at the forefront of diplomatic discussions. The visit, part of a broader European tour including Slovakia and the G7 Summit, will particularly emphasize India's transformation from a large digital market into a significant builder of deeptech products for global consumption.
The strategic agenda includes two key technology events: Bharat Innovates 2026 in Nice and VivaTech 2026 in Paris, signaling a strong Franco-Indian partnership in innovation and emerging technologies.
Bharat Innovates 2026: Connecting Indian Innovation
From June 14 to 16, Prime Minister Modi, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, will jointly inaugurate Bharat Innovates 2026 in Nice. This new platform is designed to forge connections between India's vibrant innovation ecosystem and international investors, corporations, universities, and research institutions.
The event will feature over 120 Indian deep-tech startups spanning 13 crucial sectors, illustrating the broadening scope of India's technology narrative beyond traditional software services. Key sectors include:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Semiconductors
- Space and Defence
- Healthcare and Biotechnology
- Energy and Climate Technology
- Quantum Computing
- Advanced Materials
- Next-generation Communications
Notable participants include Agnikul Cosmos, a firm developing small satellite launch vehicles with 3D-printed rocket engines, and space sector innovators like Dhruva Space and GalaxEye. In AI, Sarvam AI (focused on Indian language foundation models) and Avataar.ai (enterprise agentic AI platforms) will be present. Healthtech will feature Qure.ai, known for AI-powered diagnostic tools. The semiconductor presence is also strong, with Agnit Semiconductors (India's first GaN RF company) and BigEndian Semiconductors (AI vision chips) participating. Quantum and cybersecurity firms such as QpiAI and QNu Labs will also showcase their advancements.
VivaTech 2026: India as an AI Country Partner
Following Bharat Innovates, Prime Minister Modi will attend VivaTech 2026 in Paris on June 18, Europe’s largest technology and startup event. For this edition, India has been granted the newly established designation of AI Country Partner, a testament to the deepening Franco-Indian collaboration in technology and India's growing influence in global AI governance discussions. The Indian pavilion is anticipated to be one of the largest at the summit.
During VivaTech, PM Modi is expected to unveil India's MANAV framework for AI governance. This framework aims to articulate the country's balanced approach to fostering innovation, ensuring inclusivity, and promoting responsible deployment of artificial intelligence. The event will host a galaxy of technology leaders, including:
- Jensen Huang (Nvidia CEO)
- Yann LeCun (Meta Chief AI Scientist)
- Arthur Mensch (Mistral AI Co-founder)
- Sarah Friar (OpenAI CFO)
- Mike Krieger (Anthropic CPO)
- Thomas Wolf (Hugging Face Co-founder)
A Strategic Partnership for Innovation
The visit underscores a mutually beneficial strategic partnership. For Europe, India represents one of the world's largest technology markets and a vast talent pool. Conversely, India gains access to Europe's advanced research ecosystems, capital resources, and opportunities for strategic manufacturing collaborations. This synergy is crucial for advancing India's deeptech ambitions and strengthening its position on the global technology stage.