DH NEWS SERVICE
NICE (France), jun 14
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted India’s growing role as a global innovation leader while inaugurating the Bharat Innovates 2026 event in Nice, France. Addressing an international gathering in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron, Modi said India is no longer merely a consumer of global technologies and solutions but has emerged as a significant contributor to innovation and sustainable development worldwide.
The event, which brings together leading startups, entrepreneurs, researchers and technology experts from India, France and several other countries, serves as a platform for fostering collaboration in emerging technologies and promoting global innovation partnerships. Bharat Innovates 2026 has been conceived as a flagship initiative aimed at accelerating India’s deep-tech ecosystem and showcasing the capabilities of Indian startups on the international stage.
In his keynote address, Prime Minister Modi described Bharat Innovates as an invitation to the world to partner with India in shaping the future of global innovation. He emphasized that India’s young innovators are developing transformative solutions capable of addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
Modi pointed out that India’s innovation ecosystem has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past decade. He noted that while the world once viewed India primarily as a technology adopter, the country is now increasingly being recognized as a provider of technological solutions. According to him, innovation has become deeply embedded in India’s development journey and is driving progress across sectors ranging from digital technology and artificial intelligence to healthcare, agriculture and clean energy.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the reforms undertaken by his government in critical sectors such as technology, defence manufacturing, startup development and research. Stressing the importance of continuous policy reforms, he declared that India’s “reform express” would continue moving forward without interruption. He stated that these reforms have helped create an enabling environment for entrepreneurship, investment and innovation.
Modi further underlined India’s commitment to building a sustainable future through technology-driven solutions. He said Indian innovators are increasingly focusing on innovations that not only address domestic challenges but also contribute to global welfare. Referring to India’s expanding role in international development, he remarked that the country has emerged as a contributor of solutions for the world rather than merely a consumer of ideas developed elsewhere.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the strong and evolving partnership between India and France. He described bilateral relations as a partnership built on connection, conviction, innovation, inspiration and a shared vision for the future. According to Modi, cooperation between the two nations has expanded significantly across strategic sectors, including technology, defence, energy and climate action.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who attended the event alongside Modi, praised India’s remarkable progress in innovation and technology. He expressed France’s support for the Make in India initiative and noted that French companies have actively participated in India’s growth story across multiple sectors.
Macron described India as a nation of innovation and said the two countries enjoy a strong partnership in critical areas such as artificial intelligence, climate action and advanced technologies. He also highlighted opportunities for expanding cooperation in the civil nuclear energy sector, including the development of Small Modular Reactors.
The Bharat Innovates 2026 event is expected to facilitate greater collaboration among startups, research institutions and technology enterprises from participating countries. Industry leaders believe the initiative will help strengthen innovation-driven partnerships while providing Indian startups with greater access to global markets, investment opportunities and technological collaborations.
The event reflects India’s growing confidence and influence in the global innovation landscape and reinforces its ambition to become a leading hub for technology, entrepreneurship and sustainable development in the coming decades.
In Vidis
