India, France adopt Innovation Roadmap 2030, Economic Security Dialogue

India and France adopted an ‘Innovation Roadmap 2030’ and established an Economic Security Dialogue during bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron held in Nice during Mr. Modi’s visit to the Bharat Innovates technology conference on Sunday afternoon, June 14, 2026.

A press release from the government outlined a number of themes, including a call for rapid adoption of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Earlier this year, the two countries renamed their partnership ‘Special Global Strategic Partnership’ to reflect the increased level of cooperation. As of the time of writing, no traditional ‘joint statement’ had emerged from the meeting.

“Recognizing the key role of innovation and technology in the bilateral relationship, both sides adopted an ‘Innovation Roadmap 2030’ to give a long-term direction to the partnership,” the press release said, adding that the two leaders agreed to form a Joint India-France Artificial Intelligence Working Group to expand cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence. They also noted that 19 agreements were signed between organizations in the innovation ecosystem of the two countries.

Calling for early implementation of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement signed in February this year, the two sides agreed to establish a High Level Mechanism that will double trade within five years. The discussion also focused on cooperation in the SME, railway and aviation sectors.

According to the press release, Mr Modi and Mr Macron agreed to strengthen supply chain resilience, especially in critical minerals, as part of the ‘Economic Security Dialogue’.

The press release on major crises in the world (in Western Asia, including Iran and Gaza, as well as in Ukraine) was cautious in accordance with the two countries’ joint statement of February 17, 2026, stating only that the leaders exchanged views “on issues of global importance, including the situation in Western Asia and Ukraine.”

According to the statement made by the government, the Prime Minister thanked Mr. Macron for the rapid implementation of visa-free passage for Indians at French airports and invited French universities to open campuses in India under the New Education Policy.

The two leaders discussed private sector collaboration in the space sector and the implications of the SHANTI Act (legislation regulating the nuclear sector) in India.

“In this case, I think the scope is open for French nuclear companies to directly participate in the Indian nuclear sector or to do so with the participation of Indian private sector companies, whether in conventional nuclear power reactors or more advanced small modular reactors,” Foreign Minister Vikram Misri said at a press conference in Nice.

Mr Misri also confirmed that talks between French energy giant EDF and Nuclear Power Cooperation of India Limited for the Jaitapur nuclear power plant (with six reactor units) are still ongoing. The project has been discussed for more than 15 years.

Mr. Modi, who left France for Vienna after the bilateral meetings, went to Bratislava, Slovakia for the second leg of his European visit.