The French Tech Days India 2024, marked a significant milestone in strengthening technological ties between France and India. Organised by Business France in collaboration with the Paris Region, the event provided a strategic platform for French tech companies to tap into one of the world’s most dynamic and rapidly growing tech ecosystems: India.

This year’s French Tech Days were hosted alongside the prestigious Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS), creating a dynamic environment for collaboration between leading French tech innovators and India’s top industry leaders, investors, and partners. Over the course of the event, French companies had the opportunity to engage in a variety of activities, including tailored B2B meetings, technical visits, and innovation exchanges, all designed to forge lasting partnerships and open up new avenues of growth in India’s burgeoning tech sector.

Key Highlights of the Visit

One of the key highlights of the visit was the delegation’s tour of Schneider Electric’s Smart Factory, where they saw firsthand the latest advancements in automation, digital transformation, and industrial IoT. The technical visit offered deep insights into how Schneider Electric is shaping the future of manufacturing through innovation and smart technologies.

The delegation also had the chance to meet with the innovation teams at Infosys, one of India’s leading IT services companies. This meeting allowed French tech companies to explore potential collaborations in cutting-edge areas such as advanced AI, cybersecurity, quantum computing, and autonomous machines.

In addition to these visits, French companies participated in a series of B2B meetings with Indian counterparts. These sessions covered a broad range of sectors, including AgriTech, MedTech, EdTech, CleanTech, AI, and IoT. Many of the meetings resulted in ongoing discussions about joint ventures, investments, and technology exchanges, paving the way for new business opportunities and collaborations.

A central event of the week was the Bengaluru Tech Summit, which brought together global tech leaders and innovators. During this summit, the French delegation participated in the session titled “Vive la Tech: French Ideas, Global Impact!” This session allowed French companies to pitch their innovative solutions to Indian investors and partners, further strengthening the collaboration between the two countries and showcasing the global impact of French technological advancements.

The French Tech Night, held at the French Consulate in Bengaluru, was another major highlight. This networking event provided an opportunity for French and Indian tech leaders to come together in a more informal setting. The evening featured pitches from the French companies, followed by a cocktail reception, fostering meaningful discussions and relationship-building among the participants.

A Distinguished Delegation

The French delegation to India was led by Alexandra Dublanche, Vice-President of the Paris Region and President of Choose Paris Region. Dublanche was joined by representatives from seven innovative French tech companies that showcased the Paris region’s excellence in technology and innovation. These companies—ELDIM, BRAD, and Dolk, among others—highlighted France’s leadership in areas such as optical technologies, AgriTech, and MedTech.

Among the companies represented at the event:

• ELDIM: A leader in optical technologies, specializing in screen and surface analysis.
• BRAD Technologies: Innovators in AgriTech using AI and IoT to optimize farming processes and soil health.
• Airnity: Developers of multi-cloud platforms for automotive connectivity.
• Ecomesure: Providers of connected solutions for air quality monitoring, particularly relevant in India’s urban pollution context.
• Dolk Healthcare: Specialists in MedTech, with advanced sensor technologies for heart attack diagnostics.
• Mediawen: Offering cloud-based transcription and translation services for multilingual content.
• Studely: A FinTech company focusing on financial services for international students, facilitating access to global education.

Strong Future Prospects

The event proved to be a tremendous success, with Estelle David, Director of Business France India, reflecting on its significance: “French Tech Days 2024 has been a pivotal moment in strengthening the technological ties between India and France. The technical visits to Schneider Electric and Infosys, as well as our participation in the Bengaluru Tech Summit, have clearly demonstrated the enormous potential for collaboration. The Indian market offers immense opportunities for French companies, and we are excited to see these relationships evolve into impactful, long-lasting partnerships.”

The French Tech Days 2024 have opened up numerous doors for collaboration between France and India, reinforcing the growing synergies between the two countries’ tech ecosystems. As Business France continues its mission to support the international expansion of French tech companies, India remains a key focus, with its rapidly expanding market providing abundant opportunities for innovation, investment, and partnership.