PM Modi, Macron to Launch India-France Year of Innovation 2026 in Mumbai

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Mumbai on Tuesday where he will meet French President Emmanuel Macron and jointly inaugurate the India-France Year of Innovation 2026, according to an official statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.

Macron will be on an official visit to India from February 17 to 19 at the invitation of the Prime Minister to participate in the AI Impact Summit hosted by India and to hold a bilateral summit in Mumbai.

This will be President Macron’s fourth visit to India and his first visit to Mumbai. Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Madame Brigitte Macron will visit Mumbai and Delhi during their visit to India from February 16 to 19, the ministry said.

According to the official statement, the two leaders will hold bilateral engagements at Lok Bhavan in Mumbai at around 3:15 PM on February 17, where they will review the progress made in the India-France Strategic Partnership.

Their discussions will focus on cementing the strategic partnership and further diversifying it into new and emerging areas, while also exchanging views on issues of regional and global importance.

What does the India-France Year of Innovation 2026 aim to achieve?

At around 5:15 PM, the two leaders will inaugurate the India-France Year of Innovation 2026 and address a gathering of business leaders, start-ups, researchers and innovators from both countries.

In Mumbai, the leaders will also exchange MOUs followed by a press statement. The Hotel Taj Mahal Palace will host an India-France Innovation Forum, followed by the India-France Year of Innovation and Cultural Commemoration at the Gateway of India.

The Year of Innovation 2026 initiative will be celebrated throughout the year in both countries and aims to deepen collaboration in innovation, technology, research and people-to-people exchanges.

The initiative is intended to strengthen collaboration among startups, universities and industry, drawing on established cooperation in areas such as aerospace, defence production, climate solutions, urban transport and healthcare innovation.

Macron’s upcoming visit comes against the backdrop of a steadily deepening partnership between India and France across defence, space, civil nuclear energy, climate action, education and people-to-people exchanges.

How does Macron’s visit reflect the depth of the India-France Strategic Partnership?

“This visit follows Prime Minister Modi's visit to France in February 2025 and reflects the mutual trust and depth of the India–France Strategic Partnership, as well as the shared commitment of the two countries to deepen it further,” according to the MEA.

“During the visit, both leaders will hold discussions on strengthening bilateral cooperation across a wide spectrum of areas as enshrined in the Horizon 2047 Roadmap. In addition, the leaders will discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest, including cooperation in the Indo-Pacific,” as per the MEA.

Discussions will extend to regional and global developments, with particular attention on the Indo-Pacific amid shared concerns over stability, maritime safety and adherence to international norms.

The visit also comes as India seeks to broaden its defence partnerships and reduce reliance on traditional arms suppliers, reported Bloomberg.

New Delhi cleared defence procurements worth around $40 billion last week, including fighter aircraft and missile systems sourced from France.

The proposed acquisitions feature Rafale jets manufactured by Dassault Aviation SA along with a large consignment of long-range cruise missiles, marking one of the most significant upgrades to India’s air combat capability in recent years.

(With inputs from ANI)