‘Invitation to co-create with India’: PM Modi, Macron jointly inaugurate ‘Bharat Innovates’ in Nice

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday jointly inaugurated the ‘Bharat Innovates’, a three-day conclave that seeks to bring together top innovation startups and Venture Capital funds from India, France, and other countries.

Addressing the gathering in Nice, France in his inaugural address, PM Modi said that “Bharat Innovates” is an invitation to the world to create the next chapter of global innovation with India.

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Modi said that India’s relations with France are driven by shared values and vision.

“There are some relations which are driven by shared vision, along with shared interest. The relation between France and India is like that. In this relation, there is connection as well as conviction. In this relation, there is innovation and inspiration. In this relation, there is shared values and shared vision,” PM Modi said at the inaugural event.

Modi praised the young innovators for participating in the conclave, highlighting India’s mega pool of around 2 lakh startups.

“Several VCs (Venture Capitalists) and Industry leaders are a part of this event today. I would like to appreciate young innovators who have come here from India. Instead of walking the old path, they have abandoned it to choose a new path. They have charted a new league. You can see 100-125 startups here, but India has a mega pool of more than 2 lakh such startups. Together, these startups are contributing to the growth of Indian and world economy.

“Looking at your capability I would say that Bharat Innovates with scale and speed, Bharat Innovates for a sustainable future, and Bharat Innovates for the whole world,” he said.

The Prime Minister further states that India is on the path of transformation and “Bharat Innovates” will help bring world class solutions of the country’s youth to the global stage.

“The 21st century India is going through a major phase of transformation. Today, there is a startup revolution going on in India. In this revolution, with a new mindset, India’s youth is looking for solutions to issues in the interest of humankind. The medium to bring the world class solutions of our youth to a global stage is ‘Bharat Innovates’,” he said.

India-France ‘true partners’, says Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron said that New Delhi and Paris are “true partners” in the field of cooperativeAI, climate and energy ans innovating together.

“India and France believe in a true partnership, respect in cooperative AI. In the fields of climate and energy, France and India are innovating together. In the nuclear energy sector, we are collaborating on projects and technologies such as SMRs (Small Modular Reactors),” he said.

Macron asserted that India is at the forefront of global innovation, highlighting the country’s achievement in space sector.

“India, a nation driven by research and innovation, is at the forefront of global innovation. And if I were to cite just one example of what you can do, the space sector stands out as the best illustration. With the Chandrayaan-3 mission, the feat of landing on the Moon’s south pole was accomplished in record time, thereby demonstrating India’s strength and innovative capability…” Macron added.

He also recalled the launched of ‘Year of French-India Innovation’ in Mumbai during his India visit early this year.

“A few months ago, we jointly launched the ‘Year of French-India Innovation’ in Mumbai. The question was not whether India was innovating, but rather who would innovate in partnership with India.”