New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, at very high-level discussions in the French city of Nice, have taken a significant step towards furthering strategic cooperation between India and France by announcing the signing of the Innovation Roadmap 2030. During his high-level dialogue with French President Emmanuel Macron in French city of Nice, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Macron took a meaningful step to advance strategic cooperation between India and France with the announcement of a new Innovation Roadmap 2030.
The discussions focused on developing cooperation in areas such as AI, technologies, trade and defense, space technology, healthcare, and innovations. The two leaders emphasized the need to build cooperation in the development and sharing of new technologies and affirmed cooperation in establishing safe and resilient supply chains.
Facilitating collaborative research, start-up alliances, technology innovation, and technology development, based on the newly adopted Innovation Roadmap 2030. India and France will promote business linkages, increase the partnership between business, universities, and research institutions, and the engagement of entrepreneurs from both sides, as part of the initiative.
The meeting resulted in the establishment of an Economic Security Dialogue, expected to facilitate the two countries in addressing some of the pressing economic and technological matters. Through the dialogue, cooperation will be reinforced in specific fields such as the semiconductor supply chain, digital technologies, and strategic industries.
Further, the two leaders touched upon issues of enhancing trade and investments. India and France have agreed to achieve a target of doubling bilateral trade in the next five years. They reaffirmed their intent to further the collaboration in the field of defense manufacturing, civil nuclear energy, and in terms of “Make in India”.
Previously in the day, Modi and Macron opened up the Bharat Innovates 2026 event to be attended by startups, investors, innovators, and academic institutions from both nations. At the event, Prime Minister Modi remarked that innovation has always been a pervasive part of India’s growth story and invited the global partners to create a future with India.
The visit was made a bit cultural when President Macron posted a social media video of the moments of Modi’s visit to Nice. The upcoming film Dhurandhar’s popular Bollywood hit song “Aari Aari” made it to the video and captured people’s online interest due to the personal rapport between the two leaders.
The visit reflects the increasing significance of India-France relations, which are gravitating towards deeper cooperation in areas of technology, trade, security, and global innovation. The two countries have established a foundation for further collaboration in the coming years, with the InnovaRoadMap 2030 envisaging further progress in cooperation.
