French President greets PM Modi with warm hug ahead of Bharat Innovates inauguration
Nice, June 14
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday was warmly welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron in Nice, where the two leaders greeted each other with a hug and a handshake ahead of a key bilateral engagement.
PM Modi and President Macron are set to jointly inaugurate the 'Bharat Innovates' event, a major global platform bringing together leading startups and venture capital funds from India, France and other countries.
Technology and innovation are poised to take centre stage as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron jointly inaugurate the landmark Bharat Innovates 2026 conclave in Nice on Sunday.
The high-profile event, which brings together top innovation startups from India, France and the world, marks a crucial milestone in the ongoing 'India-France Year of Innovation' and underscores the rapidly expanding tech partnership between the two nations.
The three-day innovation conclave, running from June 14 to June 16, serves as a powerful platform to connect Indian innovators with global investors, industry leaders and academic institutions.
The joint launch by PM Modi and President Macron signals the growing importance of technology and innovation in the India-France relationship, which has seen deepened cooperation in recent years across sectors ranging from defence and space to digital technology and artificial intelligence.
More than 120 Indian deep-tech startups and over 15 leading higher education institutions, including the premier IITs and other research organisations, are participating in the event.
While the conclave may not be as well-known as major global summits, diplomatic observers view it as a critical launchpad for India to showcase its deep-tech capabilities to a global audience, attract international funding, and secure vital partnerships in emerging technologies.
The event will spotlight cutting-edge innovations across future-focused domains such as advanced computing, semiconductors, space technology, defence innovation, biotechnology, healthcare, and climate solutions.
The Nice leg also features the first bilateral summit between the two leaders since the elevation of bilateral ties earlier this year to a 'Special Global Strategic Partnership'.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Nice to see Modi getting this global recognition. But I hope this "hug diplomacy" translates into real tech collaborations and not just photo ops. Our startups need concrete funding and partnerships.
As an entrepreneur, this is very encouraging! 120 Indian deep-tech startups at one place—IITs, defense, space, biotech. This is the kind of global stage our innovators need. Proud moment for India! Ek tha, ek rahega!
I'm skeptical. We keep hearing about these summits and partnerships, but where is the ground-level impact for the common Indian? Innovation is good, but it should also address our local problems like agriculture and healthcare access.
Wow! France is becoming a key ally for India in tech and defense. This "Special Global Strategic Partnership" is no joke. From Rafale jets to this startup bridge—India is truly rising! 🇮🇳✨
Good initiative, but I wish more states in India were involved. Most of these startups are from Bangalore or Delhi. We need to decentralize innovation so smaller cities also benefit. Still, a step in the right direction.
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