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.
About
iCreate
iCreate
(International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology) is India’s leading
incubator, providing Deep Tech startups the fastest runway to commercialisation.
With a focus on hardware-based innovations in Mobility Tech, Climate Tech,
Health Tech, and Defence & Aerospace Tech, it follows a high-touch,
entrepreneur-first approach in nurturing startups. Since inception, it has
supported over 900 innovations and 100 patents through incubation, acceleration
programmes, mentorship, market connects, and funding.
About
Hauts-de-France Regional Council
The
Hauts-de-France Region is one of France's leading industrial and innovation
hubs, with strengths across advanced manufacturing, healthcare, mobility,
aerospace, agri-food, and digital technologies. Through investments in
research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and industrial development, the region
has built a robust ecosystem that supports startups, businesses, research
institutions, and global investors. Hauts-de-France is also home to leading
innovation platforms and technology clusters that drive regional and
international collaboration.