Last Updated on June 17, 2026 6:50 pm by INDIAN AWAAZ
PARIS
In a definitive push to formalize bilateral tech diplomacy, India and France have robustly reaffirmed their shared roadmap for artificial intelligence, cross-border innovation, and deep-tech collaboration. Unveiling the high-profile India Pavilion at the ongoing VivaTech 2026 summit in Paris, India’s Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, alongside French Minister for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Affairs Anne Le Hénanff, underscored the rapidly evolving strategic and economic synergy between the two nations.
The high-level engagement sets the operational tone for the India-France Year of Innovation 2026—a bilateral mandate envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron—positioning India as the exclusive AI Country Partner at this year’s European tech flagship event.
Addressing innovators and startups, Piyush Goyal said the India-France partnership has been strengthened further through the India-France Year of Innovation 2026 announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron. He said India offers key advantages for the AI era, including a young population, a large pool of STEM graduates, strong digital infrastructure and democratic governance.
The Minister underlined India’s vision of human-centric artificial intelligence through the concept of “MANAV”, emphasising ethical, accountable, inclusive and trustworthy AI. He said India is prepared to become a global hub for AI talent, data centres and advanced technologies. French Minister Anne Le Hénanff described India as a global innovation powerhouse and welcomed its role as the AI Country Partner at VivaTech 2026.
She said India’s technological achievements and leadership in responsible AI reflect Prime Minister Modi’s vision of technology serving humanity. Highlighting the Franco-Indian Year of Innovation, she said collaboration between startups, universities and research institutions is creating new opportunities.
Anne Le Hénanff said France and India share common goals of innovation, responsibility and action, and are working together to promote trustworthy AI, digital resilience and sustainable technological development. The India Pavilion is one of the largest national pavilions at VivaTech 2026 and showcases the country’s growing startup and innovation ecosystem.