Indian Economy News

India, France review expanding canvas of bilateral cooperation in science, technology & space

India and France have strengthened their strategic partnership in science, technology and space through a high-level virtual meeting between Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh and French Minister for Higher Education, Research and Space, Prof. Philippe Baptiste. Both sides reviewed the expanding scope of bilateral cooperation and explored new opportunities in artificial intelligence (AI), applied mathematics, advanced materials, ocean sciences and space technologies. The statement further emphasised that science and space cooperation have emerged as a strong pillar of India-France relations, contributing not only to technological progress but also to stronger people-to-people ties. The two countries also highlighted the significance of the 2026 Indo-French Year of Innovation, which is expected to accelerate collaboration across innovation-driven sectors.

Space cooperation remained a major focus during the discussions, with both nations acknowledging the long-standing partnership between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the National Centre for Space Studies. Moreover, the statement outlined that progress was reviewed in joint satellite missions, Earth observation systems, launch technologies and maritime domain awareness initiatives. It was further highlighted in the statement that India’s Deep Ocean Mission and the country’s extensive coastline were important strengths for future ocean-related partnerships. France expressed interest in expanding cooperation in human spaceflight, including astronaut training, microgravity experiments and long-term collaborative programmes linked to India’s Gaganyaan mission. The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to deepen collaboration in emerging technologies and innovation-led sectors, further strengthening the India-France strategic partnership in science and space research.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.