More than 120 Indian companies and startups are set to participate in Bharat Innovates 2026, a flagship innovation showcase in Nice, France, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron slated to jointly inaugurate the event on Sunday, 15 June 2026. The gathering, part of the India-France Year of Innovation, will bring together prominent business leaders, investors, and CEOs from France and across the world alongside India's startup ecosystem.

What Bharat Innovates Represents

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the event reinforces the growing innovation partnership between India and France. It is designed as a convergence point for investors, corporates, and technology innovators, offering Indian startups a global stage they would be unlikely to access independently. The event spans early-stage ventures as well as established businesses, reflecting the breadth of India's current innovation wave.

Voices From the Startup Fraternity

Vikram Vishal, an innovator from UrjanovaC, described the mood among participants as one of genuine enthusiasm. 'We are very excited. All the members of our startup fraternity are extremely happy that our Prime Minister is supporting and encouraging us. This sends a strong message that if you are a technology innovator creating meaningful solutions, you have the support and encouragement of the Prime Minister himself. We are truly delighted, and our excitement knows no bounds,' he said.

Ajeet Babu PK, an innovator from Gudlyf Mobility, highlighted the platform's unique value: 'Bharat Innovate has become a platform through which investors, corporates, and innovators can come together to drive progress for India and the world. It has provided us with an opportunity and visibility that we might not have received elsewhere...'

Prateek Golecha, an innovator from Tricog Health, echoed the sentiment, noting the quality of interaction on the ground. 'We have been interacting with many fellow companies here, and they are doing some remarkable research and work. Some are in the early stages, while others have already established successful businesses,' he said. He added that the presence of both heads of government at the event 'not only creates business opportunities but also provides a great opportunity to create impact on the ground.'

Strategic Context: India-France Innovation Partnership

The India-France Year of Innovation provides the diplomatic backdrop for Bharat Innovates, signalling that bilateral ties are increasingly being channelled through technology and entrepreneurship rather than purely through defence or trade. This comes amid India's broader push to position itself as a global innovation hub, with government-backed programmes and international showcases forming a key pillar of that strategy.

Notably, the Nice event follows a pattern of high-profile diaspora and startup engagements that have accompanied Prime Minister Modi's overseas visits in recent years, underscoring the Centre's consistent effort to leverage diplomatic occasions for economic outreach.

What Comes Next

With the inauguration scheduled for Sunday, participants are expected to engage in bilateral meetings, investor pitches, and collaborative sessions through the course of the event. The outcomes — in terms of investment commitments and partnerships forged — will be closely watched as a measure of whether such showcases translate into tangible growth for Indian startups on the global stage.