France’s MBDA, India’s Air Force Partner on MICA Missile Hub

French defence firm MBDA has signed a landmark agreement with the Indian Air Force (IAF) to establish a local Maintenance, Repair, and Mid-Life Overhaul (MRO) facility for MICA missiles in India. This move will drastically reduce dependence on overseas support, improve turnaround times, and strengthen India’s defence self-reliance under the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.

Key Highlights of the Agreement

• Facility Ownership: The MRO center will be set up, operated, and maintained by the IAF, ensuring sovereign control.
• MBDA’s Role: MBDA will provide industrial machinery, specialized tools, technical data packages, training, and technical support.
• Scope: Covers maintenance, repair, and mid-life overhaul of MICA missiles, ensuring lifecycle support within India.
• Strategic Impact: Enhances fleet readiness, operational flexibility, and reduced logistical complexity by eliminating overseas servicing.
• Alignment: Directly supports Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India, fostering indigenous defence sustainment capabilities.

Why It Matters

• Operational Readiness: Faster servicing means quicker missile availability during high-tempo operations or crises.
• Self-Reliance: Builds long-term technical expertise and reduces reliance on foreign repair cycles.
• Strategic Autonomy: Strengthens India’s ability to sustain advanced missile systems independently.
• Economic Impact: Supports growth of India’s domestic aerospace and defence ecosystem.

About the MICA Missile

MICA Missile 

• Variants:
  • MICA-RF (active radar seeker)
  • MICA-IR (imaging infrared seeker)
• Capabilities: Fire-and-forget, dual seeker, effective at short and beyond-visual ranges (60–80 km).
• Speed: Up to Mach 4 with a 12 kg high-explosive warhead.
• Platforms: Integral to Rafale and upgraded Mirage 2000 fleets of the IAF.

This agreement is a strategic milestone for India’s defence ecosystem, ensuring faster missile servicing, reduced foreign dependency, and enhanced combat readiness. It also reflects MBDA’s long-standing partnership with India, now evolving into deeper sustainment collaboration.

However, despite the agreement India will not gain rights to produce MICA missiles; new units and upgrades must still be purchased from MBDA. Agreement covers maintenance and overhaul only, not manufacturing.

While reduced, India remains reliant on MBDA for future missile developments.

Capgemini Partners with India–France Year of Innovation 2026 to Accelerate Cross-Border Collaboration

Capgemini today announced its platinum partnership with the India-France Year of Innovation 2026, reinforcing the company’s commitment to accelerating innovation and strengthening cross-border collaboration between the two countries. As part of this collaboration, Capgemini has developed a digital platform that connects innovators across India and France, creating a single environment for organizations to partner, connect, learn, and stay updated on programs and events in both countries.

Capgemini’s selection as a partner is underpinned by its global innovation capabilities, and its proven track record in building global ecosystems that connect organizations with emerging technologies, start-ups and academic institutions - to empower enterprises to accelerate real-world innovation and turn ideas into scalable impact. The company’s continued investments in advanced technologies, supported by a significant number of employees being trained in generative AI, further positions Capgemini to support innovation initiatives at scale.

“India and France are deepening their collaboration in emerging technologies, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence, where both countries share a common vision and long‑term strategic interests. This makes 2026 a significant milestone in their innovation journey. As an AI‑powered business and technology company and a proud partner for the Year of Innovation, Capgemini brings its expertise in supporting complex, multi‑stakeholder initiatives across geographies. We combine our technology leadership with extensive experience in large ecosystem engagements to help organizations collaborate in a more structured, seamless, and effective way,” said Aiman Ezzat, Chief Executive Officer of the Capgemini Group.

With deep expertise in technology-led transformation and ecosystem orchestration, Capgemini is adept at enabling structured engagement, greater visibility, and seamless knowledge exchange across diverse stakeholder groups.

France to Replace Zoom and Teams with Sovereign Video Platform by 2027

France has announced it will phase out US-based video conferencing platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, WebEx, and Google Meet across government departments by 2027, replacing them with a homegrown system called Visio. The move is aimed at strengthening digital sovereignty, ensuring data security, and reducing reliance on foreign technology providers.

Key Details of France’s Plan

• Platform: Visio, a domestically developed video conferencing tool.
• Timeline:
  • 2026: Full adoption across French public administration begins.
  • 2027: US-based licenses will no longer be renewed.
• Scope: Applies to all government departments and public servants (approx. 200,000 users).
• Savings: Estimated €1 million per year per 100,000 users by eliminating recurring foreign software licensing costs.

Motivations Behind the Shift

• Digital Sovereignty: France wants to keep sensitive government communications within national infrastructure.
• Security Concerns: US platforms are subject to American laws like the CLOUD Act, raising risks over data access.
• Cost Efficiency: Reducing dependence on commercial foreign platforms lowers long-term expenses.
• European Strategy: This aligns with the EU’s broader push for technological sovereignty.

Comparison: US vs. French Alternatives

Feature	US Platforms (Zoom, Teams, WebEx, Meet)	French Alternative (Visio)
Data Hosting	Primarily US-based servers	Hosted on French infrastructure
Legal Jurisdiction	Subject to US laws (e.g., CLOUD Act)	Governed by French/EU laws
Cost	Recurring license fees	Lower long-term costs
Adoption	Global, widely used	Initially limited to French public sector
Security Focus	Enterprise-grade, but foreign-controlled	Designed for sovereign, secure communications

Risks & Challenges

• Transition Costs: Migrating thousands of users from familiar platforms may cause short-term disruption.
• Interoperability: Collaboration with international partners who still use Zoom/Teams may require bridging solutions.
• User Experience: US platforms are feature-rich and widely adopted; Visio must match usability to gain acceptance.

Broader Implications

• For Europe: France’s move could inspire other EU nations to adopt sovereign digital tools.
• For US Tech Firms: Losing government contracts in France highlights growing resistance to foreign tech dominance.
• For Businesses: Private companies may follow suit if Visio proves cost-effective and secure.

Accenture Expands Infrastructure Advisory with Planned Acquisition of France’s Orlade Group

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has announced its intent to acquire French Orlade Group (“Orlade”), which provides advisory and project management services for capital projects through its subsidiaries, which include Op2 and pmO. The acquisition would significantly expand Accenture’s capabilities to help clients optimize their investments in large-scale, long-term projects, such as nuclear power plants, power grids, rolling stock, defense systems and space launch systems.

Op2‘s services include advising clients on how they can organize and execute capital projects more successfully with lead time reduction expertise, key best practices for large-scale project management and predictive data-driven models. pmO’s project management processes and tools help clients deliver capital projects on time and on budget.

Orlade and its subsidiaries would bring approx. 200 professionals, most of which are based in Paris and Bordeaux. The company’s international locations include Montréal (Canada) and Brisbane (Australia). Their teams would join Accenture’s infrastructure and capital projects practice within Industry X.

Accenture’s planned acquisition would come at a time in which organizations developing capital projects are facing many challenges, ranging from increased scrutiny from stakeholders to supply chain issues to staffing shortages to cybersecurity risks. As a result, only 6% of organizations surveyed deliver projects on or ahead of schedule. Two-thirds miss their targets, adding an average of 29% in labor costs and penalty fees to the bill, research from Accenture shows.

Koen Deryckere, Accenture France & Benelux market unit lead, said: “This acquisition would strengthen our position in France and boost our ability to help clients reinvent how they plan and execute large-scale projects in the energy, utilities, rail, aerospace and defense sectors. It would enhance our capital project management expertise, from advisory to execution, and leverage advanced technologies like generative AI to drive large-scale, responsible transformation.”

Flavien Parrel, who leads Accenture Industry X for France and Benelux, added: “Orlade is an experienced leader in helping organizations successfully plan and execute complex industry projects. Their team‘s expertise would complement our leadership in digital and technology, where generative AI offers immediate productivity gains to our capital projects clients in areas such as data compilation, analysis, and the production of technical deliverables.”

Orlade was founded in 2005 by Pascal Oriot, Sylvain de Robert and Frederic Laforce. In a joint statement, they pointed out that Orlade’s expertise in the full lifecycle of capital projects in industrial sectors, combined with Accenture’s leadership in digital and AI, would create a unique capability to deliver future standout projects for clients. Together, both companies could help clients navigate complexity with clarity, bold thinking and a clear focus on delivery.

Accenture has been scaling its capabilities for helping clients with their infrastructure and capital projects in Europe and North America continuously over the past two years. Earlier in 2025, it acquired construction consultancy Soben in Scotland and engineering managed services company IQT Group in Italy. In 2024, it bought BOSLAN, a management services provider for net-zero infrastructure in Spain. In 2023, US advisory and management company Anser Advisory and Canadian consulting and program management company Comtech became part of Accenture.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Completion of the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions.

India’s SmartSoC Partners with France’s Cortus to Advance Secure Semiconductor Manufacturing

SmartSoC Solutions Private Limited, an Indian semiconductor design and product engineering company, today announced a strategic partnership with Cortus S.A.S., a French semiconductor company renowned for its cutting-edge Intellectual Property (IP) solutions in secure identification technologies. This partnership aims to drive innovation and accelerate the development and manufacturing of SIM cards, Smart cards, banking cards, and e-passport chip solutions in India, establishing a robust domestic capability in secure and mission-critical chip design.

Founded in India, SmartSoC Solutions has built a reputation as one of the fastest-growing engineering service companies, offering very large scale integration (VLSI), embedded software, Internet of Things (IoT), and AI-driven solutions to global customers. With over 1,400 engineers operating globally, SmartSoC Solutions has emerged as a key contributor to India's growing semiconductor ecosystem.

Cortus, headquartered in Montpellier, France, is a leading chip solution provider that leverages its broad IP portfolio, custom chip design capabilities, and advanced technologies to specialize in secure elements and semiconductor solutions. With over 17 billion chips deployed worldwide, Cortus technology powers a wide range of applications, including SIM cards, smart cards, banking cards, cryptocurrency, pay-TV, e-passports, as well as automotive, consumer, and industrial sectors.

Shipping approximately 1.2 billion chips annually, Cortus is now sharpening its focus on automotive, avionics, and artificial intelligence (AI) chipsets. It delivers complete system-on- chip (SoC) solutions designed to meet the stringent safety, security, and performance standards of modern vehicles. Cortus’ secure, energy-efficient, and scalable designs are trusted globally for identity protection, financial transaction security, and automotive-grade applications.

To support the growing demand for advanced, high-performance semiconductor solutions worldwide, Cortus has established strategic alliances across Europe, China, and India. These partnerships strengthen local design, development, and support capabilities, fostering closer collaboration with regional markets. Cortus is expanding this network to build a resilient, diversified ecosystem that accelerates innovation and delivers next-generation RISC-V solutions tailored for mission-critical and safety-sensitive applications.

Bharath Desareddy, CEO of SmartSoC Solutions

“SmartSoC Solutions is excited to collaborate with Cortus in bringing advanced secure chip technologies to India,” said Bharath Desareddy, CEO of SmartSoC Solutions. “This partnership marks a significant milestone in our mission to enable secure and self-reliant silicon manufacturing in India. With Cortus’ proven IP and expertise in secure identification and our deep design and engineering capabilities, we are confident of delivering world-class chipsets tailored for the Indian and global markets.”

“We see India as a key market for secure identity and financial transaction chips,” said Michael Chapman, CEO of Cortus. “Our collaboration with SmartSoC reflects Cortus’ commitment to building global partnerships for local innovation. We are excited to work with a like-minded partner to drive sustainable and secure chip production in the region.”

With the government’s growing emphasis on Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India), Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, and recent policy pushes for secure digital identity and financial infrastructure, the timing is ripe for local innovation and manufacturing.

SmartSoC Solutions is a global provider of semiconductor design and embedded engineering services, specializing in turnkey project execution, custom ASIC development, and foundry services. With deep domain expertise and a solutions-driven approach, SmartSoC enables clients to accelerate growth and scale efficiently. Our collaborative, end-to-end approach enables leading semiconductor and system companies to streamline development cycles and bring differentiated silicon solutions to market with precision. Visit us at https://www.smartsocs.com

Cortus is a global fabless semiconductor company delivering high-performance RISC-V automotive chips up to 4 GHz capable of 4 instructions/cycle, with integrated AI inference optimized for computer vision. Cortus designs and supplies advanced RISC-V chips tailored for automotive, avionics, and AI-driven systems, combining high performance, energy efficiency, and functional safety to meet the most demanding industry requirements. Visit us at https://www.cortus.com

France Discovers Massive Deposits of Natural Hydrogen Worth $92 Trillion

France has made a groundbreaking discovery of natural hydrogen reserves, estimated to be worth around $92 trillion. The reserve is estimated to hold 46 million tonnes of hydrogen, valued at around $92 Trillion. This makes it one of the largest known natural hydrogen reserves on the planet.

The discovery was unexpected, as scientists were initially searching for methane but instead found this vast supply of white hydrogen buried 1,250 meters underground.

White hydrogen is naturally occurring and does not require complex industrial processes or generate harmful emissions, making it a potential game-changer for clean energy. This discovery could significantly impact the global energy landscape and drive a shift towards more sustainable energy sources.

Unlike green hydrogen, which requires electricity from renewable sources for production, or grey hydrogen, which is derived from fossil fuels and contributes to pollution, white hydrogen is naturally occurring. It is found deep underground and does not require complex industrial processes or generate harmful emissions.

Researchers from the Georesources Laboratory and CNRS made the discovery while initially searching for methane. Instead, they found a vast natural hydrogen reserve buried 1,250 meters underground.

The discovery could expedite the transition to a hydrogen-based economy, aligning with the EU's Fit-for-55 Package and REPowerEU plan. Natural hydrogen, being a clean and sustainable energy source, can help Europe achieve its net-zero goals more efficiently.

With substantial natural hydrogen reserves, Europe could reduce its reliance on imported fossil fuels, enhancing energy security and independence.

White hydrogen is considered a potential game-changer for clean energy as it provides a carbon-free energy source. When burned, it only produces water, making it an exceptionally clean energy source with enormous potential.

The discovery could spark a global shift toward sustainable energy, as similar reserves might exist in other parts of the world. This could redefine the way energy is produced and consumed globally.

This discovery is not just a significant milestone for France but also holds the potential to revolutionize the global energy landscape.

TCS France Partners French Engg. School to Offer Internships and Employment

TCS France, the french subsidiary of Indian IT giant Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and EPITA (École pour l'Informatique et les Techniques Avancées) have formed a partnership to offer internships and employment opportunities to students. This collaboration aims to provide students with real-world professional experience in an international and culturally diverse environment.

The partnership includes various internship programs and job opportunities, allowing students to gain valuable experience and apply their knowledge in a corporate setting. This initiative is part of TCS's broader efforts to nurture talent and equip them for future challenges in the tech industry.

Notably, TCS has been involved in significant projects, such as helping Air France-KLM migrate their data to the cloud. This project positions Air France-KLM as one of the most data-centric airlines in the world.

EPITA (École pour l'Informatique et les Techniques Avancées) is a prestigious engineering school in Paris, France, specializing in computer science and advanced technologies. Founded in 1984, EPITA is known for its rigorous programs and focus on preparing students to become experts in fields like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, embedded systems, and more.

EPITA offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs, including a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and several Master of Science programs in areas such as Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity. The school also emphasizes practical experience, with internships and hands-on projects being integral parts of the curriculum.

TCS has established innovation centers, such as the TCS PacePort Paris, which focuses on accelerating innovation and digital transformation for businesses.

In December 2022, an another Tata Group entity, Tata Technologies, has set up an innovation center in Toulouse, France, which focuses on sustainable solutions for product engineering, manufacturing engineering, and customer services engineering. This center aims to strengthen Tata Technologies' relationship with Airbus and expand its industry presence.

TCS To Set Up First-of-its-Kind Human-Centric AI CoE in France

• Based at the new TCS PacePort™ in Paris, the center will focus on the brain-machine interface, developing empathy in machines and unleashing the creativity of AI
• Joins a growing AI ecosystem as part of France’s 2030 National Strategy for AI, with TCS creating new jobs and internships, aiding the country’s goal to double its AI-skilled workforce in the next five years
• The center will take an industry-first approach for the BFS, manufacturing, energy and consumer industries to deepen the adoption of AI in the French economy

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has announced the creation of a Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Center of Excellence in Paris, during the Choose France Summit, hosted by President Emmanuel Macron. The summit was attended by 300 global CEOs, including Mr. N. Chandrasekaran, the Chairman of Tata Sons.

The new AI center will be based in the upcoming TCS PacePort™ in the La Défense area of Paris, which will be inaugurated in June 2024, becoming the 7th such facility in TCS’ global Pace network, following Amsterdam, London, New York, Pittsburgh, Toronto, and Tokyo. The TCS AI Center of Excellence in Paris will leverage TCS’ global ecosystem of startups, academia, and research organizations to bring the best of global capabilities to French companies. The new center will join France’s growing AI ecosystem and tap into its deep talent base in design and engineering, to build advanced technologies in the space of human-centric AI. It will focus on pushing the boundaries of how AI can be designed and evolved to address business efficiencies and societal priorities. The impact areas shall include some of the key priorities listed in France’s National Strategy for AI, as part of the France 2030 plan.

Valerie Pecresse, President of the Regional Council of the Ile-de-France region, said, “Paris region is fast developing into one of the global epicenters for Artificial Intelligence. We are delighted to see this new investment by TCS, which will boost the AI ecosystem we are looking to develop and provide new opportunities to our students and professionals. I look forward to inaugurating this center in June.”

The center will, initially, focus on areas such as brain-computer interface, building empathy in machines, and unleashing the power of AI in arts and culture. The leading position that Paris has as a global hub of culture, arts and design will provide added impetus to this initiative.

Earlier in March this year, TCS had announced the opening of its new PacePort™ in London, a dedicated 9,000 Sq. Ft. innovation hub that aims to drive and accelerate innovation-led growth in the United Kingdom while helping businesses bring innovation to life.

Dr. Harrick Vin, Chief Technology Officer, TCS, said, “The need of the hour is to boost AI skills present in the country, accelerate the adoption of AI in the French economy, and develop global capabilities here that will benefit the rest of the world. Our new AI center in Paris will focus on many of these areas, including the development of talent and leveraging the world-renowned culture that France has for design – reflected in its fashion, luxury sector and museums. We will seek to deepen our partnerships with universities, startups, and research centers in the country, as we operationalize this center in the coming weeks.”

“We are very proud of the growth of our operations in France and the nature of the complex and high-value digital services we provide for our clients. Our new investments in the TCS PacePort™ in Paris and the TCS AI Center of Excellence are demonstrations of our ongoing commitment to building capabilities in the most advanced technologies and bringing them to bear for our clients in the country and across the world. The new center will focus on boosting human-centered AI capabilities for the banking & financial services, manufacturing, and consumer sectors, to start with. We will hire new talent and partner with universities to offer internships and projects, to support the National AI Mission,” said Rammohan Gourneni, Country Head, TCS France.

TCS has continuously ramped up its investments in France, since commencing operations in 1992. With the acquisition of TKS- Teknosoft in 2006, and of Alti in 2013, TCS significantly boosted its presence in the region. It now has 1,600 employees in the country, working for 80 of France’s leading businesses. TCS has established three delivery centers in Lille, Poitiers, and Paris and will soon set up a new facility in Toulouse. It recently modernized its corporate headquarters in La Défense, invested in creating a new PacePort™ and has recruited 500+ people over the past three years.

Tata Technologies Invests in an Innovation Centre in France to Accentuate Product Engineering and Digital Transformation for the Aerospace and Defence Sector

Company will focus on developing a local ecosystem of diverse and skilled innovators that will develop and deliver solutions for the global aerospace & defence companies.

Tata Technologies, a global product engineering and digital services company, inaugurated its innovation centre in Toulouse, France, to cater for the new-age product engineering & digital requirements of the global aerospace and defence sector. As a strategic supplier for Airbus, Tata Technologies brings 3-decades long engineering expertise, having worked with global aerospace customers on a wide range of strategic projects across product engineering, manufacturing engineering and customer services engineering areas. This new centre in Toulouse celebrates the larger Tata Group's commitment to the aerospace & defence sector.

The new centre aims at strengthening Tata Technologies’ relationship with Airbus as an engineering partner and expand its horizon in the industry by leveraging its innovative sustainable solutions for product engineering, manufacturing engineering, customer services engineering, predictive maintenance, tool design, data analytics, factory automation, process design and simulations. These end-to-end solutions are designed to transform digital customer journeys into seamless customer experiences.

Speaking on occasion, Mr Deepanshu Khurana. Second Secretary (Economic & Commerce), Embassy of India said, " I am delighted to be part of the Tata Technologies Aerospace & Defence innovation centre inauguration event which would further strengthen the relationship between India and France. As part of the Tata group, Tata Technologies brings in three decades of product engineering and digital transformation expertise that would provide great potential to the companies in this region. This new centre will provide growth opportunities and foster talent in Toulouse. It will also strengthen the economic ecosystem of the region. This is consistent with the growing economic cooperation between India and France and increasing investments from India into France in important high-quality areas."

Speaking on occasion, Mr Warren Harris, Managing Director, and CEO of Tata Technologies said, "We are excited about the potential of the new innovation centre that we inaugurated in Toulouse, the primary aviation hub of Europe today. This new centre is designed to innovate solutions for Airbus and other Global OEMs leveraging skills of the local talent pool and knowledge of our global team/s spread across the world. We believe that creating a local ecosystem that is diverse, knowledgeable and skilled for our customers in the market will boost our strategic alliance and help us develop better products efficiently."

Tata Technologies leverages its global engineering engagement model to deliver fast and optimized solutions for engineering analysis and modelling, continuous engineering support, cabin interior design and development, passenger-to-freighter conversion, tooling, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO).

About Tata Technologies: We're a global product engineering and digital services company focused on fulfilling our mission of helping the world drive, fly, build, and farm by enabling our customers to realize better products and deliver better experiences. We’re the strategic engineering partner businesses turn to when they aspire to be better. Manufacturing companies rely on us to enable them to conceptualize, develop and realize better products that are safer, cleaner, and improve the quality of life for all the stakeholders, helping us achieve our vision of #EngineeringABetterWorld. For more, visit us at https://www.tatatechnologies.com/ 

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T-Hub Partners with IFCCI to Strengthen Tech and Innovation Collaborations Between India and France

• T-Hub Partners with IFCCI to Strengthen Tech and Innovation Collaborations Between India and France
• The Indo-French Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IFCCI) also launched its sixth chapter in India, based in Hyderabad, Telangana State
• The one-year agreement will act as a gateway for Indian and France-based technology-driven startups to scale globally.

T-Hub, which leads entrepreneurs’ success with defined results through effective global collaborations, today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IFCCI) to reinforce the dialogue of innovation, growth and prosperity between India and France. The MoU was signed in the presence of KT Rama Rao, Hon’ble Minister of IT, I&C, MA and UD, Govt. of Telangana State; Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary I&C and IT, Govt. of Telangana State; Sumeet Anand, President of IFCCI and Founder, Indsight Growth Advisors; H.E Emmanuel Lenain, Ambassador of France to India; Paul Hermelin, Special Representative of the French Government for Economic Relations with India and Chairman of the Board of Capgemini; MSR, CEO of T-Hub; and Panneerselvam Madanagopal, Chief Innovation Officer of T-Hub.

This one-year agreement will act as a gateway for Indian and France-based technology-driven startups to scale globally and strengthen the robust innovation ecosystem in both countries. T-Hub and IFCCI will collaborate on events and workshops to promote Indo-French partnerships in the technology and innovation sectors to bridge the gap between the French and Indian startup ecosystems.

IFCCI also launched its Hyderabad chapter at T-Hub’s new facility, the world’s largest innovation campus, in the presence of Thierry Berthelot, Consul General of France in Bengaluru; Payal S Kanwar, Director General of IFCCI; and Gerard Wolf, Chairman BRICS Access and Chairman of the Sustainability Task Force, MEDEF International (the most significant business confederation in France). T-Hub and IFCCI also hosted a French business delegation that was brought by MEDEF International, which included CXOs of French and Indian companies, state officials, diplomats, policymakers, the top players in the private sectors of France and India, multilateral organisations and renowned industry experts.

MSR, CEO of T-Hub, said, “The economic ties between India and France are on an upward trajectory. However, there is still untapped potential in terms of growth areas for both nations to advance economically. This is particularly true considering how quickly technology is evolving and changing both countries' economies and societies. Our partnership with IFCCI aims to address these challenges and opportunities that will help boost the continued growth of India-France bilateral relations. It also presents a chance for our startups to connect with France's innovation and startup ecosystem and gain access to peers and industry experts.”

Sumeet Anand, President of IFCCI and Founder, Indsight Growth Advisors, said, “IFCCI’s new chapter in Hyderabad is to support growing French investments in Hyderabad given the strong support of the Govt of Telangana. This is driven by 3+1 attractive reasons: a market with scale, talent for India and the world, supply chain in increasing products and now sustainable solutions for the planet!”

Payal S Kanwar, Director General of IFCCI, said, “We are delighted to see the growing French presence in Hyderabad across sectors like defence and aerospace, energy, technology, food processing, etc. Today’s inauguration is an important step in promoting this city's strong potential and building a strong Indo-French ecosystem.”

Panneerselvam Madanagopal, Chief Innovation Officer of T-Hub said, “The shared goal of T-Hub and IFCCI is to create technologically advanced and globally aspirational ecosystems. By signing this MOU, we will give entrepreneurs and corporates from both the countries a platform and the opportunity to network and grow together.”

This launch follows the earlier successfully conducted 4th fourth edition of the Indo-French Investment Conclave in 2021, focusing on attracting French investments and boosting trade between France and India.

France and India have a long-standing strategic partnership. France is the ninth-largest foreign investor in India, where it has more than 1,000 establishments and employs more than 350,000 people. France is also India's significant source of FDI(Foreign Direct Investment). Also present are 39 of the 40 CAC (French Stock Market Index) companies.

India's economy is one of the fastest growing in the world, and it continues to be a land of opportunity. Telangana's GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) in 2020–21 was recorded at INR 9.78 lakh crores, denoting a growth rate of (+) 1.35 per cent compared to the previous year at current prices, higher than the national average, as noted in the Annual Report 20–21 of Invest Telangana. This was despite the COVID-19 outbreak in India and the strict lockdowns enforced, which heavily impacted the industries. Hyderabad has remained one of the best cities in the nation to live and work in, while the State, which makes up a sizeable portion of the Indian economy, has experienced spectacular economic growth for decades.

With this important chapter launch, IFCCI intends to promote existing French investments in the state and help them network with other companies within its extensive network.

The chapter launch of IFCCI is supported by the French Embassy in India, the Government of Telangana, CCEF – French Foreign Trade Advisors and Business France.

IFCCI is India's most active bilateral chamber, with more than 650 Indian and French member companies spread across India and France. www.ifcci.org.in

T-Hub (Technology Hub) is an innovation hub and ecosystem enabler. Based in Hyderabad, India, T-Hub leads India’s pioneering innovation ecosystem and is the world’s largest innovation campus. Over six years, T-Hub has pivoted around the 6Ms (Mentorship, Money, Market Access, Motivation, Mindset, Manpower) and 2Ps (Partnerships and Policy advisory) framework with a mission of driving results and collaboration for entrepreneurs’ success. It has delivered 100+ innovation programs so far, creating an impact for startups, corporations and other innovation ecosystem stakeholders. Since inception, it has provided over 2000 national and international startups with access to better technology, talent, mentors, customers, corporates, investors and government agencies.

For more information about T-Hub, visit www.t-hub.co.