Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, 14 June declared that India's reform momentum will continue without pause, asserting that the country's startup ecosystem is set for further expansion. Speaking at the 'Bharat Innovates' event in Nice, France, Modi positioned India as a global hub for innovation and extended an open invitation to international innovators to partner with the country.

India as the World's Third-Largest Startup Ecosystem

Modi highlighted that over the past 11–12 years, India has systematically built one of the world's most robust innovation architectures. India has emerged as the world's third-largest startup ecosystem, a milestone he attributed to sustained policy support, expanding incubation networks, and a surge in patent filings.

'Over the past 11–12 years, India has built a strong ecosystem for innovation. From patent filings to incubation networks, and from Startup India to policy support, this entire journey has progressed forward in mission mode,' the Prime Minister said.

He added that the number of startups in India will continue to grow as the country remains committed to reforms and innovation-driven development.

Call to Global Innovators

Addressing an international audience at the Nice event, Modi urged entrepreneurs and technologists from across the world to see India as a destination for co-creation. 'Come, collaborate with India and develop technological solutions for the world,' he said, underscoring that India's young innovators are already developing solutions with the potential to benefit humanity at scale.

This comes amid India's broader push to attract foreign investment in deep-tech and emerging technologies, with the Centre actively courting partnerships in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and clean energy.

India-France Partnership: A Shared Vision

Modi also used the occasion to spotlight the special bilateral relationship between India and France, describing it as one anchored in shared values and a common vision for the future. 'In this relationship, there is connection, and there is conviction as well. In this relationship, there is innovation, and there is inspiration, too,' he said.

He pointed to concrete outcomes of the partnership — including the International Solar Alliance, joint dialogues on AI governance, and cooperation spanning security and sustainability — as evidence of the depth of the India-France strategic relationship.

Reform Continuity as a Policy Signal

The Prime Minister's remarks at Bharat Innovates carry weight beyond ceremonial address. By reaffirming the reform agenda on an international platform, Modi is sending a signal to global investors and multilateral institutions that India's policy environment will remain stable and innovation-friendly. Notably, the event comes at a time when India is actively negotiating trade and technology partnerships with several European nations.

The next phase of India's startup push is expected to focus on scaling deep-tech ventures beyond metropolitan centres, with Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities increasingly entering the innovation map.