Beyond Rafale, India-France Ties Get a Deep-Tech Upgrade

For years, the India-France relationship has been defined by Rafale fighter jets, nuclear cooperation and joint space missions. At Bharat Innovates 2026, that narrative shifted. 

The three-day event, which concluded on 16 June, saw participation by nearly 120 startups, who not only pitched to investors but also engaged in supply chain negotiations, signed commercial MoUs, and secured market access. The Indian deep-tech ventures increasingly needed this to scale globally. 

Startups spanning sectors such as AI, space, agritech, healthcare, climate technology and defence, offered a glimpse into India's rapidly expanding deep-tech ecosystem.

"India is moving beyond being a technology adopter to becoming a global technology provider," Namrata Ashok of IIT Bombay, who attended the event, wrote in a LinkedIn post. 

France, with about 18,000 startups, is one of Europe's top innovation hubs. In the first nine months of 2025, French startups raised €5.8 billion, mainly in AI, deep tech, greentech, and health tech. Indian founders see France as a place for innovation and a gateway to the EU.

For instance, Niqo Robotics, which develops AI-powered precision spraying technology for agriculture, sees Europe as the next best market for expansion.

Jaisimha Rao, Founder of Niqo Robotics, said that farmers are under increasing pressure to reduce chemical use while maintaining productivity. As a result, precision agriculture has become a growing priority across the continent and offers them an opportunity to serve the market.

Rao’s ambition reflected across segments. Some of the companies were building for the long haul and finding the right partners to collaborate.

"We're working with a French launch aggregator for our upcoming launches,” Ronak Kumar Samantray, Founder of TakeMe2Space, said. The startup is also in talks with the country’s sensor manufacturer to collaborate.  

Another space tech startup, EON Space Labs, which develops imaging tech for satellites, drones, and defence, is exploring collaborations with European partners in optics, earth observation, and dual-use defence tech. "While discussions are at an early stage, the quality of interactions has been extremely encouraging," Founder Punit Badeka said. 

The significance of such partnerships extends beyond individual companies. About 13 French universities signed partnership agreements with 11 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) to enhance cooperation in student exchanges, joint research, innovation support, academic collaboration, and talent development.

Deep-tech companies often require years of product development, specialised manufacturing partners and international customers to scale. If the conversations at Bharat Innovates lead to tangible commercial partnerships, they could lay the foundation for a lasting India-France innovation corridor.