India and France have unveiled a roadmap to deepen technological and scientific cooperation through 2030, placing innovation at the centre of their bilateral partnership.
The initiative, announced as part of the India-France Year of Innovation 2026, follows the elevation of ties to a Special Global Strategic Partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Paris. The roadmap seeks to expand collaboration across artificial intelligence, digital technology, cybersecurity, research and innovation.
Both countries have emerged as advocates of safe, secure and trustworthy AI systems, having hosted major international AI summits in consecutive years. They also support privacy-preserving data-sharing frameworks aimed at unlocking the benefits of AI and data-driven innovation.
The roadmap emphasises closer cooperation among governments, industries, startups, universities and research institutions to drive innovation-led growth and build resilient supply chains in strategic sectors.
Space cooperation is also set to expand. India and France will host major international space events in September, with the Bengaluru Space Expo and the International Space Summit in Paris expected to advance collaboration in Earth observation, human spaceflight and future low-Earth orbit missions.
Planned areas of cooperation include joint activities linked to French zero-gravity expertise and India’s future space station programme.
The partnership also highlights the importance of STEM education, research collaboration and talent mobility. Indian institutions, including the IITs, will strengthen academic exchanges and joint research programmes with French counterparts.
France has reaffirmed its goal of welcoming 30,000 Indian students by 2030, a move both countries see as vital to fostering innovation, strengthening people-to-people ties and supporting long-term economic development.
