Emmanuel Macron hails India-France partnership in technology and AI

French President Emmanuel Macron lauded India's burgeoning influence in global technology, calling the nation a leader in innovation during the 'Bharat Innovates' event in Nice. He stressed France's dedication to strengthening bilateral cooperation across various sectors, including artificial intelligence, clean energy, and scientific research.

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A country with 1.4 billion inhabitants, a country who pays on know-how and research knowledge and training as many engineers as Europe and the US combined, more than one million per year. So in every respect, a country with research innovations and frontier models is spearheading global innovation.

Alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Macron highlighted India's robust innovation ecosystem, its deep pool of talent, and its research capabilities as key drivers of its global technological leadership. "A country with 1.4 billion inhabitants, a country who pays on know-how and research knowledge and training as many engineers as Europe and the US combined, more than one million per year," Macron stated, emphasizing India's significant human capital in STEM fields.

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The question is no longer whether India innovates. The question is who will innovate with India.

Macron framed the India-France relationship as one built on shared values of innovation and international collaboration. "The question is no longer whether India innovates. The question is who will innovate with India," he remarked, expressing France's honor in hosting the inaugural 'Bharat Innovates' event outside India. This event aims to connect Indian startups and innovators with French partners, investors, and researchers.

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India and France believe in a true partnership, in multilingualism respect, in cooperative AI and an open model for the greater good.

Addressing cooperation in emerging technologies, Macron underscored the mutual support for an open and collaborative approach to artificial intelligence, contrasting it with a growing global temptation to restrict AI models. "India and France believe in a true partnership, in multilingualism respect, in cooperative AI and an open model for the greater good," he affirmed. The French President also noted advancements in climate action and energy security, citing joint initiatives like the International Solar Alliance and cooperation on nuclear energy projects.

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In terms of climate and energy, France and India innovate together to guarantee power self-reliance, to guarantee the COP21 promises.