Modi in France: In era of disruption, PM bets on India as global technology provider

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (June 14) inaugurated the 'Bharat Innovates' event in Nice, France, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, declaring that India has shifted from being a consumer of global technology to a major contributor of solutions — even as the world grapples with what he called "a decade of both disruption and development."

Speaking against the backdrop of escalating global conflicts and climate change, Modi said India's answer to the upheaval is human-centric, inclusive innovation. "India has emerged not as a consumer of solutions but as a contributor to solutions in the world," he said.

Innovation and inclusion go together

Modi argued that technological advancement and social inclusion are not competing goals. "India has demonstrated that innovation and inclusion are not contradictory but complementary. The greatness of any innovation lies not merely in its evaluation, but in its human impact," he said. He stressed that India's priority is building technology that is reliable, inclusive and human-centric, aimed at benefiting the largest possible segment of humanity.

Also Read: Modi in France: What’s on agenda? G7 Summit, meeting with Trump

The decade of disruption

The prime minister acknowledged the turbulent global backdrop against which this innovation push is taking place. "This decade is one of both disruption and development for the world. Amidst conflicts and the escalating impact of climate change, the world is undergoing a period of unprecedented upheaval," he said. He identified artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotechnology, space technologies and advanced materials as the defining technologies of the next phase of human civilisation.

Reforms will keep coming

Modi highlighted his government's ongoing reform agenda across high-technology, nuclear energy, defence and innovation sectors. "This momentum of reform will not stop; it will continue. And the number of startups emerging from India will also continue to multiply manifold," he said.

Modi used the occasion to underline the depth of the India-France bilateral relationship. "India and France have a special partnership — it has connection, conviction, innovation, inspiration and a shared vision," he said. French President Macron, speaking at the same event, said France respects the Make-in-India initiative and has been part of it across diverse sectors.

Also Read: Defence, nuclear energy and innovation top agenda for Modi-Macron talks in France

He described India as a "country of innovation" and said the two nations share a "true partnership" in critical areas such as artificial intelligence and climate change. Macron also flagged scope for expanding bilateral cooperation in civil nuclear energy, including Small Modular Reactors.

A global invitation

Modi closed his address by framing 'Bharat Innovates' as an open call to the world. "Bharat Innovates is an invitation to the world to co-create the next chapter of global innovation with India," he said. "India is innovating for the world."