Desk : French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday praised India’s rapidly growing technological strength, stating that the country is now playing a leading role in shaping global innovation. He highlighted India’s vast talent pool, strong research ecosystem, and expanding startup landscape as key drivers of global technological progress.
The remarks were made during the ‘Bharat Innovates 2026’ event held in Nice, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also present. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in artificial intelligence, clean energy, scientific research, and innovation.
India’s Rising Technological Strength
Macron said that India, with a population of 1.4 billion, is producing millions of engineers every year, making it one of the largest contributors of technical talent globally. He noted that India is no longer just participating in innovation but actively shaping its direction.
He remarked, “The question is no longer whether India innovates, but who will innovate with India.”
Expanding India-France Partnership
Macron said the relationship between India and France is built on shared values and innovation-driven cooperation. He described the ‘Bharat Innovates’ initiative as a key platform connecting startups, investors, and research institutions from both countries.
The event in Nice marks a major milestone under the India-France Year of Innovation, aimed at deepening technological and industrial collaboration between the two nations.
Bharat Innovates 2026 brought together startups, venture capital firms, and innovators from India, France, and several other countries.
AI and Open Innovation
Referring to global competition in artificial intelligence, Macron said that while some countries are moving toward restricting access to advanced AI models, India and France support an open, multilingual, and collaborative approach.
He emphasized that technology should be used for shared progress and global benefit rather than being confined within closed systems.
Cooperation in Climate and Energy
Macron also underscored growing cooperation between the two countries in climate action and energy security. He mentioned joint efforts under the International Solar Alliance and collaboration in nuclear energy projects, including Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technologies.
International Solar Alliance was highlighted as a key platform advancing clean energy transition and climate goals.
He added that India and France are jointly working toward reducing carbon emissions and achieving sustainable development objectives.