From Nice to Paris, PM Modi's France visit puts India's deeptech ambitions in focus at Bharat Innovates and VivaTech

During his recent trip to France, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted India's ambitions in the deep tech sector, positioning the country as a key player in the global technology landscape. From June 13 to 18, Modi's visit also includes stops in Slovakia and participation in the G7 Summit in Evian, but the focus on technology and startups is particularly significant. In Nice, Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron launched Bharat Innovates 2026, a new initiative designed to connect Indian deep-tech startups with international investors, universities, and research entities. This event, running from June 14 to 16, showcases over 120 Indian startups across various sectors, including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, space exploration, healthcare, and more. Among the notable participants is Agnikul Cosmos, which specializes in small satellite launch vehicles using 3D-printed rocket technology. Other representatives of India's burgeoning private space industry, such as Dhruva Space and GalaxEye, will also be present. The AI sector is well-represented, with companies like Sarvam AI, focused on developing models for Indian languages, and Avataar.ai, which creates AI platforms for businesses. Healthtech is also featured prominently, with Qure.ai presenting its AI-driven diagnostic solutions. The semiconductor industry will not be overlooked, with Agnit Semiconductors and BigEndian Semiconductors showcasing innovations in RF technology and AI vision chips, respectively. Additionally, startups specializing in quantum technology and cybersecurity, such as QpiAI and QNu Labs, will be in attendance. Following Bharat Innovates, Modi will head to VivaTech 2026 in Paris, where India is honored as the AI Country Partner. This designation underscores the strengthening partnership between France and India in technology and marks India's growing influence in global AI governance. Modi is set to unveil India's MANAV framework for AI governance, emphasizing the nation's commitment to responsible and inclusive AI development. VivaTech is expected to host prominent figures from the tech world, including leaders from Nvidia, Meta, Mistral AI, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Hugging Face. As one of the world's largest technology markets, India stands to gain from European research ecosystems and investment opportunities, while Europe benefits from access to India's vast talent pool and innovative capabilities.