India and France adopted an "Innovation Roadmap 2030" on Sunday and announced 13 concrete outcomes during the first leg of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France, deepening a partnership the two countries elevated to a "Special Global Strategic Partnership" in February.
The headline agreement sets long-term direction for bilateral cooperation in technology and innovation. Modi and President Emmanuel Macron also agreed to establish a Joint India-France AI Working Group to coordinate on artificial intelligence and its global governance, and to expand the use of India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) digital-payments system in France.
In all, 19 agreements were signed between institutions in the two countries' innovation ecosystems, spanning artificial intelligence, space, education, trade and strategic cooperation. The leaders also set up a high-level mechanism aimed at doubling bilateral trade over the next five years, building on an existing economic and financial dialogue.
On talent and education, Modi invited French universities to open campuses in India, while Macron committed to support Indian students pursuing higher studies in France. The two sides agreed measures to ease the mobility of researchers and students between the countries.
The visit builds on momentum from earlier in 2026, when Macron travelled to India in February and the two governments inaugurated an India-France Year of Innovation. France has become one of New Delhi's closest partners in defence and high technology, including jet engines, submarines and space launches.
The roadmap also feeds into India's broader Western diplomacy: Modi is among the leaders invited as a guest to the G7 summit opening in Évian, where AI governance and trade with China feature on the agenda.