Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Nice, France, on June 13, 2026, kicking off a five-day European visit that places technology and startups at the centre of Indian diplomacy. The trip — which also includes Slovakia and the G7 Summit in Evian — is being closely watched as New Delhi seeks to reposition itself not just as a large digital market, but as a builder of deeptech products for the world.
On Sunday, Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron jointly inaugurated Bharat Innovates 2026 in Nice, a new platform bringing together more than 120 Indian deep-tech startups, investors, universities, and research institutions across 13 sectors including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, space, defence, biotechnology, and quantum computing.
Bharat Innovates 2026: India's deeptech showcase
Held in Nice from June 14 to 16, Bharat Innovates 2026 is positioned as a launchpad for India's innovation ecosystem to connect with global investors, corporates, and research institutions. The three-day event features startups working across 13 frontier technology domains.
The semiconductor presence is particularly notable. Agnit Semiconductors, India's first GaN RF semiconductor company, and BigEndian Semiconductors, which is developing AI vision chips and hardware security solutions, are among the participants. Quantum and cybersecurity startups such as QpiAI and QNu Labs are also showcasing their work.
Piyush Srivastava, Additional Secretary (Europe West) at the Ministry of External Affairs, called it "a landmark initiative that showcases India's innovation journey to a global audience — our startup ecosystem, deep tech startups, digital public infrastructure, advances in defence, space and clean energy, and contributions of Indian talent to global technology."
The conclave also marks the first bilateral summit between Modi and Macron since the two countries elevated their relationship to a "Special Global Strategic Partnership" earlier this year. 2026 is being celebrated as the India-France Year of Innovation.
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| June 14-16 | Bharat Innovates 2026 | Nice, France |
| June 14-16 | Historic bilateral visit | Slovakia |
| June 16-17 | G7 Summit (8th consecutive invite) | Evian, France |
| June 18 | VivaTech 2026 (AI Country Partner) | Paris, France |
India as AI Country Partner at VivaTech
Four days after Bharat Innovates closes, Modi will be in Paris on June 18 for VivaTech 2026, Europe's largest technology and startup event. India holds the newly created designation of AI Country Partner for this edition — a recognition of the deepening Franco-Indian partnership in technology and of India's emergence as a significant voice in global AI governance.
The Indian pavilion at VivaTech is expected to be one of the largest at the summit. The timing is significant: it comes just days after the US government's unprecedented decision to block foreign access to Anthropic's most advanced AI models, reinforcing India's argument that strategic autonomy in AI is no longer optional.
G7 Summit: India's voice for the Global South
Between the technology showcases, Modi will attend the G7 Summit in Evian on June 16-17. This is India's eighth consecutive G7 invitation, and Modi has framed it as an opportunity to represent developing economies. "At the G7, India will not only speak for itself, but it will also give voice to the aspirations of the Global South," he said ahead of the visit.
The summit agenda is expected to cover global economic stability, climate finance, AI governance, and geopolitical tensions — all areas where India's position as the world's most populous nation and fastest-growing major economy gives it significant weight. A possible bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump is also on the cards.
What this means for Indian startups and tech
The France visit represents a strategic pivot in how India presents itself to global technology markets. Rather than emphasising its role as a large consumer market or a destination for outsourced IT services, New Delhi is showcasing its homegrown deeptech capabilities — in chips, quantum computing, space, and AI.
For Indian startups, the exposure at Bharat Innovates and VivaTech could open doors to European venture capital, corporate partnerships, and research collaborations that have historically favoured American and European startups. With over 120 startups presenting across 13 sectors, the events offer a concentrated snapshot of India's technological ambitions.
The visit concludes on June 18 in Paris, where Modi and Macron will jointly appear at VivaTech — capping a week that may be remembered as the moment India formally pitched itself to the world as a deeptech power, not just a digital market.
Sources: Business Today, The Hindu, The Tribune, NewKerala, Ministry of External Affairs, EuropeSays.com
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Sources
- Bloomberg — bloomberg.com
- Reuters Business — reuters.com/business
- Voxlogue editorial research
