Narendra Modi in France: Tech, innovation to dominate bilateral agenda

What Happened

• The Prime Minister's France visit placed deep-technology cooperation, AI governance, and defence at the centre of the bilateral agenda.
• In Nice, both leaders jointly inaugurated "Bharat Innovates," a platform connecting Indian deep-tech startups with French and international investors and research institutions.
• India presented the MANAV Vision — its human-centric AI governance framework — at bilateral forums and at VivaTech 2026 in Paris, where India serves as AI Country Partner.
• The bilateral agenda included discussions on Rafale Marine jet acquisitions, Scorpene submarine cooperation, and the integration of indigenous Indian weapons systems on existing Rafale aircraft.
• The India-France Year of Innovation 2026 provides the institutional framework for these engagements, covering AI, cybersecurity, defence technology, and sustainable innovation.

Static Topic Bridges

India's MANAV Vision for AI Governance

At the India AI Impact Summit in Mumbai in February 2026, the Prime Minister unveiled the MANAV Vision — India's comprehensive framework for ethical, sovereign, and human-centric artificial intelligence governance. MANAV is an acronym: Moral and Ethical Systems, Accountable Governance, National Sovereignty, Accessible and Inclusive AI, and Valid and Legitimate Systems. The framework reflects India's approach to AI as both an economic enabler and a domain requiring democratic accountability and data sovereignty. France was an early supporter — President Macron co-chaired the AI Impact Summit, backing India's AI leadership role.

India-France Space Cooperation: ISRO and CNES

Space cooperation is one of the three foundational pillars of the India-France Strategic Partnership (alongside civil nuclear and defence). The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the French Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES) have a history of collaboration spanning several decades. A joint declaration for cooperation in future launch vehicle technologies was concluded, as was an agreement for the joint Earth observation mission TRISHNA (Thermal infraRed Imaging Satellite for High-resolution Natural resource Assessment). The first India-France Strategic Space Dialogue was held in Paris in June 2023, establishing civil and defence space cooperation tracks under the Horizon 2047 Roadmap.

India-France Defence Cooperation: From Rafale to Indigenous Integration

India-France defence ties represent the most substantive component of their strategic partnership. A Defence Cooperation Agreement was signed in 2006, formalising joint exercises, technology transfer, and equipment procurement. The most landmark transaction was the September 2016 government-to-government deal for 36 Rafale multirole combat aircraft at €7.8 billion — a deal that demonstrated India's preference for direct inter-government procurement to ensure technology and maintenance provisions. France is among India's top defence suppliers alongside Russia, the United States, and Israel.

Currently, discussions centre on: (a) the Rafale Marine variant for India's carrier-based naval aviation; (b) continuation of the P75 Scorpene submarine programme under which six submarines are being built at Mazagon Dock Limited; and (c) indigenisation — integrating Indian-made weapons and systems into existing Rafale airframes, which has implications for India's Atmanirbhar Bharat defence manufacturing programme.

VivaTech 2026 and India's Deep-Tech Diplomacy

VivaTech is Europe's largest technology and startup event, held annually in Paris. India's designation as AI Country Partner for VivaTech 2026 — with the largest national pavilion at the event — marks a shift in how India uses bilateral diplomacy to project technology leadership. The Bharat Innovates platform, launched in Nice, is explicitly designed to connect Indian deep-tech startups with venture capital and research institutions from France and other countries, creating a private-sector pipeline alongside the government-to-government frameworks.

Key Facts & Data

• MANAV Vision: unveiled February 2026; five pillars for AI governance
• Rafale deal: 36 aircraft, €7.8 billion, September 2016
• Scorpene P75 programme: 6 submarines at Mazagon Dock Limited
• First India-France Strategic Space Dialogue: June 26, 2023, Paris
• TRISHNA: joint India-France Earth observation mission
• Bilateral trade: $15.81 billion (more than doubled over the last decade)
• VivaTech 2026: India as AI Country Partner, largest national pavilion