Nice, France — In a major milestone for the ongoing PM Modi France Slovakia visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron jointly inaugurated the “Bharat Innovates 2026” summit at the Palais des Expositions in Nice. The high-profile event, supported by India’s official Ministry of External Affairs, serves as a premier showcase of India’s rapidly growing deep-tech startup ecosystem to international venture capitalists and industrial leaders.
For Indian startups, this summit is not just an exhibition but a crucial gateway. Historically, Indian tech players have looked toward Silicon Valley for venture capital, but the Modi-Macron push at Nice signals a deliberate strategic shift toward European deep-tech partnerships and alternative funding ecosystems.
Modi and Macron Showcase Deep-Tech Startups
The three-day tech conclave brings together over 120 Indian deep-tech startups, 20 prominent Institutes of Excellence, and more than 350 international investors. Key discussions during the PM Modi France Slovakia visit focus on 13 critical technology sectors, including Artificial Intelligence, semiconductor manufacturing, space technology, green hydrogen, and electric mobility solutions.
Following the inauguration, the two leaders held extensive bilateral talks at Villa Kerylos in Nice. According to official diplomatic statements, negotiations centered on strategic defense partnerships, joint space exploration projects, and expanding the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transaction network across European markets. The emphasis on technological partnerships comes amidst rising global scrutiny surrounding the risks of unverified AI deployment in corporate sectors.
Historic Visit to Slovakia Next on Agenda
Following the Nice engagements, the Prime Minister will travel to Bratislava for a historic state visit from June 14 to June 16, 2026. This marks the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Slovakia since the country gained independence in 1993, representing a major step forward for India-Central Europe relations.
Later this week, PM Modi will return to France to participate in the 52nd G7 Summit in Evian, scheduled for June 15–17, before wrapping up his six-day European tour at the VivaTech event in Paris alongside President Macron on June 18.
