India and France are getting ready to unveil a bilateral roadmap on artificial intelligence (AI) and form a partnership for cooperation in small modular nuclear reactors during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France. Arriving in Paris on February 10, Modi will join French President Emmanuel Macron as co-chair of the AI Action Summit on February 11.
The AI roadmap is a component of India and France’s strategy to designate 2026 as the Year of Innovation, with an emphasis on technology in the fields of food and healthcare, green and blue economies, aerospace and defense, and culture and industry.
In order to ensure that the technology serves the public interest through autonomous solutions, the AI Summit seeks to advance an ethical, sustainable, and inclusive approach to AI development.
Cooperation in this area is anticipated to increase as a result of India’s amendment to the Atomic Energy Act and the ₹20,000 crore allotted for small modular reactor (SMR) research and development. It is anticipated that both nations will complete an agreement to form a collaboration on SMRs and advanced modular reactors (AMRs).
It is anticipated that an agreement for a digital sciences center will be finalized between France’s Institute for Research in Computer Science and Automation (INRIA) and India’s Department of Science and Technology. Ten AI-focused start-ups from India are also anticipated to reach an agreement to be housed at Station F in France.
Modi will visit Marseille and give a speech at the India-France CEOs forum following the AI summit.
On February 12, Modi and Macron will visit the Mazargues War Cemetery and the ITER nuclear fusion research project in addition to launching India’s new consulate in Marseilles.
India anticipates that the AI applications will be secure, compassionate, and reliable.
The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) will be a major topic of discussion.
By 2030, France hopes to have 30,000 Indian students, up from the current 10,000.
