Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Bharat Innovates programme in France on Sunday, June 14, 2026, highlighting innovation, technology, and youth aspirations as the central forces reshaping India's future on the global stage.

Context

Speaking at the event, PM Modi said that 'innovation, technology and the aspirations of our youth are driving India's transformation and shaping the future.' The statement came as part of his participation in the Bharat Innovates programme, a platform designed to showcase Indian innovation and technology talent to an international audience in France.

India and France have maintained a strategic partnership since 1998, with cooperation deepening steadily across artificial intelligence, space technology, defence, and sustainable innovation. Bilateral summits between the two nations have consistently featured science, technology, and innovation as headline pillars.

Policy Backdrop

The Bharat Innovates event sits within a broader arc of technology-focused policy that the Modi government has pursued since 2014. The Startup India initiative, launched in 2016, formalised state support for young entrepreneurs and technology startups, while the Digital India programme, announced in 2015, set out to expand digital infrastructure and position the country as a global technology leader.

These programmes have collectively built the policy scaffolding that events like Bharat Innovates are designed to project internationally. France has emerged as a preferred European partner for joint research and development, talent mobility frameworks, and the setting of emerging technology standards alongside India.

Stakeholders and Impact

Indian startups and young innovators stand as the primary stakeholders of this platform. By addressing the programme on foreign soil, PM Modi signals to international investors and governments that India's demographic dividend — its large, young, technology-oriented population — is a strategic asset being actively channelled through policy.

For France, deeper technology ties with India offer access to one of the world's fastest-growing startup ecosystems and a large talent pool. Joint R&D frameworks and innovation corridors between the two countries are expected to be areas of continued focus through the India-France bilateral track in 2026 and beyond.

What's Next

Observers will watch for follow-up announcements stemming from the India-France bilateral engagements surrounding the Bharat Innovates programme, including any technology cooperation agreements or joint research initiatives. The Bharat Innovates format itself may expand to other partner countries in 2026-27 as India continues to use international platforms to amplify its innovation narrative and attract global investment into its technology sector.