Corridor to Accelerate India-France Startup Collaboration
Nice, France | June 15, 2026: iCreate, India’s
leading deep tech startup incubator, has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the Hauts-de-France Regional Council to establish
the India–Hauts-de-France Bilateral Corridor for Deep Tech Innovation,
creating a direct pathway for startup collaboration, market access, pilot
deployments, and technology commercialisation between the two regions.
The partnership was announced in Nice at Bharat Innovates 2026, the
Government of India’s flagship innovation initiative, being jointly
inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron
on June 14, 2026. The MoU forms part of a broader set of India–France
institutional agreements being concluded at the summit.
Focused on sectors such as HealthTech, ClimateTech, AgriTech, FoodTech,
e-Mobility, Aerospace and Defence, and Physical AI and Deep Tech Systems,
the corridor will enable startups from both regions to access new markets,
industry partnerships, research collaborations, and pilot opportunities.
The initiative aims to accelerate innovation adoption, strengthen
supply-chain resilience, and unlock co-funded investment opportunities
across strategic sectors.
Over the next 18 months, the partnership aims to support more than 12
startups in pursuing cross-border expansion, facilitate at least three
joint pilot deployments across Indian and European markets, and launch the
first bilateral startup cohort comprising innovators from both ecosystems.
A key differentiator of the corridor is its implementation-led structure.
While iCreate and the Hauts-de-France Regional Council are the principal
partners, execution will be supported by EuraTechnologies, one of Europe’s
leading startup and innovation hubs, and Nord France Invest, the region’s
investment promotion agency. A Joint Steering Committee comprising
representatives from both sides will oversee implementation and drive
measurable outcomes.
Speaking on the occasion Mr. Avinash Punekar, CEO, iCreate said, “As India
and France deepen their collaboration in technology and innovation, there
is a unique opportunity to connect talent, research, and entrepreneurship
across borders. This corridor is more than a partnership; it is a platform
to help deep tech startups access global markets, forge meaningful industry
collaborations, and accelerate the journey from innovation to impact. We
believe it will empower entrepreneurs from both ecosystems to solve global
challenges and build globally competitive ventures.”
François Decoster, Regional Vice-President, Hauts-de-France, said,
“Hauts-de-France has built a strong ecosystem for deep tech innovation, backed by
world-class research, industrial capabilities, and investment networks.
Through this partnership with iCreate, we are creating new opportunities
for startups from both regions to collaborate, scale internationally, and
accelerate the commercialisation of cutting-edge technologies. We believe
this corridor can serve as a model for future innovation partnerships
between France and India.”
The partnership combines Hauts-de-France’s strengths in research, industry,
investment, and European market access with iCreate’s deep tech ecosystem
and India’s manufacturing prowess, creating a powerful platform for
startups to innovate, collaborate, and scale across global markets.
The initiative builds on iCreate’s proven track record of supporting deep
tech startups across mobility, energy, healthcare, aerospace, defence,
artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing. Some notable startups
supported by iCreate include ChargeZone, Clean Electric, Integra Robotics,
Vijigi, Naxatra Labs, BioScan, Biokraft, and Zero Drag. In addition,
through its partnership-led initiatives, iCreate has also enabled
high-potential ventures such as Carbonstrong Technologies, Green Aero
Propulsion, and Urjanovac, which were recognised under the AVAANA–Startup
India–NITI Aayog AIM Grand Challenge for Frontier Tech Innovation.
Together, these ventures reflect the quality, diversity, and global
potential of India’s deep tech ecosystem, demonstrating how strategic
support, industry partnerships, and innovation-led programs can help
startups compete, collaborate, and scale in international markets.
The India–Hauts-de-France corridor is the first bilateral deep tech
partnership between an Indian incubator and a French region. The
collaboration is expected to serve as a scalable model for future
India-Europe innovation partnerships, enabling startups, researchers,
investors, and industry leaders to collaborate across borders and
accelerate the global growth of emerging technologies.
