Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday jointly inaugurated ‘Bharat Innovates 2026’ in Nice, France.
The three-day innovation conference, which was launched during Modi’s visit to France, brings together leading startups, innovators and venture capital funds from India, France and several other countries.
While speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the special partnership between India and France, saying that the two countries have a common connection, conviction, innovation, inspiration and vision.
“There are some relationships that are driven by a common vision, along with a common interest. The relationship between France and India is like that. In this relationship, there is connection as well as conviction. In this relationship, there is innovation and inspiration. In this relationship, there are common values and a common vision,” Prime Minister Modi said at the inauguration ceremony.
The Prime Minister said that innovation is in India’s DNA, adding that the country has shown a trend to the world through its innovations for thousands of years.
“We are no longer just adopters of technology, we have become technology providers. Everything India innovates is aimed at benefiting humanity. Bharat Innovation Corporation seeks to advance this same vision,” he added.
Prime Minister Modi said that India aims to build technology for humanity – technology that is reliable, inclusive and human-centric. “This has been the guiding principle of India’s digital revolution. A key element of our AI vision is ‘AI for All,'” he added.
He said that India has emerged not as a consumer of solutions, but as a contributor of solutions.
“India today has a large pool of more than 200,000 startups, contributing to both the Indian and global economy.” The Prime Minister added.
Prime Minister Modi is on a two-nation visit to France and Slovakia, where he is scheduled to hold high-level meetings and participate in key international events, especially the G7 summit.
From Nice, he will travel to the Slovak Republic on a state visit from June 14-15, 2026, the first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister since Slovakia’s independence in 1993.
