Mumbai

Narendra Modi and Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday jointly launched the India-France Innovation Forum 2026 in Mumbai, describing it as a testament to the deep partnership, shared democratic values and growing collaboration between the two nations in science, technology and entrepreneurship.

Speaking at the event, Modi announced that India and France will designate 2026 as the “India-France Year of Innovation.” He said the initiative reflects a collective resolve to strengthen cooperation in emerging technologies and future-focused sectors.

Modi noted that the coming year would see expanded exchanges between innovators, researchers and businesses from both countries. As part of the initiative, India will host programmes to deepen industry-level collaboration, while France will stage “India Innovates 2026,” a platform where leading Indian startups will present cutting-edge solutions addressing global concerns such as healthcare, climate change and security.

Highlighting India’s entrepreneurial growth, the Prime Minister said the country has rapidly evolved into the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem. He credited the Startup India programme for accelerating this transformation, pointing out that the number of Indian unicorns has risen dramatically over the past decade—from just four in 2014 to more than 120 today.

Modi also underlined the achievements of the Atal Innovation Mission, which completes ten years on February 24. He described it as one of the largest grassroots innovation movements globally, with over 10,000 Tinkering Labs engaging more than 10 million students. The mission, he said, is supported by numerous incubators and education-technology ventures, and he encouraged industry leaders to actively participate in its expansion.

Looking ahead, Modi emphasised that innovation will be central to India’s ambition of becoming a developed nation. He said this year’s Union Budget places special focus on strengthening the innovation ecosystem, including setting up content creator labs in 15,000 schools and 500 colleges. He added that the government is pursuing mission-mode initiatives in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, biotechnology, semiconductors and clean energy, while encouraging innovation across sectors including textiles, chemicals, sports goods, precision engineering, electronics and infrastructure.

The Prime Minister also highlighted India’s growing prominence in women-led research and entrepreneurship, describing it as a matter of national pride.

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The forum marked another milestone in the expanding India-France strategic partnership, with both leaders reiterating their commitment to harness innovation as a driver of sustainable growth and global progress.