The inaugural day of Bharat Innovates 2026 saw the signing of over 30 memorandums of understanding and joint declarations to enhance international research and student exchange partnerships. The Ministry of Education highlighted keynote addresses, strategic dialogues, and industry discussions aimed at strengthening global innovation corridors and deep-tech collaborations.
The agreements included partnerships between Indian Higher Education Institutions, incubators, and global counterparts to boost innovation, entrepreneurship, research collaboration, and startup support. Notably, 13 French universities forged partnerships with 11 Indian Institutes of Technology and the Indian Institute of Science to foster student exchanges, joint research, and talent development.
Additionally, the India-France ATL Bridge initiative, established by Atal Innovation Mission and La Foundation Dassault Systèmes, will extend India’s Atal Tinkering Lab framework to France. The program also featured sessions on topics like AI for Global Good, India-Europe deep tech collaborations, and global deep-tech capital corridors to promote cross-border financing and technology development.
Infosys founder N R Narayana Murthy emphasized the pivotal role of academic institutions in nurturing globally competitive technology enterprises. He stressed the importance of higher education and research institutions in fostering value-led founders and technology leaders who can drive innovation and societal impact.
The inaugural event was jointly inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palais des Expositions de Nice, France. Bharat Innovates 2026 showcased 120 Indian innovators, over 15 Higher Education Institutions, and more than 500 global stakeholders, highlighting advancements in key sectors like advanced computing, biotechnology, and healthcare.
