India and France are set to further deepen their cooperation in the fields of space, human spaceflight, and emerging technologies. To this end, both sides are exploring possibilities for greater participation by research institutions, industries, and start-ups.
These discussions took place during a meeting in New Delhi between Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Science and Technology and Space, and a high-level French delegation led by Prof. Philippe Baptiste, France’s Minister for Higher Education, Research, and Space.
This meeting focused on the upcoming Space Summit, the India-France Year of Innovation 2026, and cooperation in the fields of space, science and technology, CEFIPRA, and the Blue Economy. Space cooperation between India and France began in the 1960s, when the two countries collaborated on sounding rocket experiments. Since then, this partnership has expanded to include joint satellite missions, launch-vehicle technology, and human spaceflight.
Joint missions such as ‘Megha-Tropiques’ and ‘SARAL’, developed by ISRO and France’s CNES, have been among the key achievements. Singh stated that work is underway on the third joint satellite, ‘TRISHNA’.
The minister highlighted that France is supporting India’s Gaganyaan programme by providing essential equipment and flight-surgeon training, while the two countries are exploring cooperation in microgravity research and parabolic flights. Singh noted that India’s rapidly growing space sector, with more than 400 space start-ups, offers new opportunities for bilateral cooperation.
France has shown interest in enhancing cooperation in the fields of human spaceflight, astronaut health, microgravity research, and parabolic flights. Baptiste also welcomed the strong ties between research institutions and start-ups in both countries.
The discussions emphasized the expanding scope of India-France cooperation in the fields of biotechnology, digital technology, and ocean science, including India’s Deep Ocean Mission. It is expected that the ‘India-France Year of Innovation 2026’ will further strengthen these partnerships by fostering collaboration among institutions, industries, and start-ups, and by creating new opportunities in emerging technologies.
(PIB)
