India-France Year of Innovation 2026 to deepen cooperation in education, research

New Delhi, Sept 29 (INB) Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi and French Higher Education, Research and Space Minister Philippe Baptiste have discussed strengthening India-France cooperation in education, research, innovation and academic mobility.
During their bilateral meeting in New Delhi on Monday, Joshi highlighted the longstanding India-France partnership and said the India-France Year of Innovation 2026 provided an opportunity to deepen collaboration in education, research and innovation, according to an official statement issued by Ministry of Education.
The two ministers discussed strengthening institutional linkages, mobility of students, faculty and researchers, and expanding opportunities for collaborative academic programmes and exchanges. They also explored greater cooperation in life sciences, social sciences and humanities, with emphasis on institutional interaction, joint academic activities and research, the ministry said. French higher education institutions were invited to explore opening branch campuses in India, including in GIFT City, Gujarat, as well as locations where French companies operate and require skilled technical manpower, it said. The discussions also covered strengthening language learning and teacher education, sharing academic expertise and promoting technology-enabled learning. The two sides exchanged views on the ongoing revision of the Mutual Recognition of Qualifications (MRQ) Agreement between India and France and discussed sharing best practices in digital education and using technology to expand access to quality learning. Baptiste is on a three-day visit to India from September 28 to 30, it stated. The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to deepening cooperation in higher education, innovation, language education and digital learning, the ministry said.