By Prof. Nathalie DEVILLIER, Ph.D. in International Law | Professor of AI Law and Ethics at aivancity
Beyond the high-profile announcements made at the AI Action Summit in Paris in February 2025, Franco-Indian cooperation on artificial intelligence is characterized by a shared vision, concrete commitments, and a strategy for sustainable innovation. This strategic partnership is built on clear pillars: ethical governance, open research, social inclusion, and technological sovereignty.
The Franco-Indian partnership: a cornerstone of responsible AI
Among the major commitments made at the AI 2025 Summit are the creation of a public AI platform, the launch of an observatory on the energy impact of AI led by the International Energy Agency, and a network of observatories on employment. At the same time, France announced a €109 billion plan to support infrastructure, training, and research. The European Union presented “InvestAI,” a €200 billion program designed to support the continent’s digital and technological sovereignty.
The joint presence of Emmanuel Macron and Narendra Modi at the summit marked a turning point in relations between France and India on technological issues. The two countries affirmed a shared vision: to use AI to address major societal challenges, such as healthcare, education, disaster management, sustainable agriculture, and the fight against climate change.
This convergence led to the adoption of a joint declaration that lays the groundwork for a long-term technological partnership. In it, France and India underscore their commitment to developing international AI standards that respect human rights and to promoting algorithmic transparency. They also reaffirm their commitment to supporting open resources, linguistic diversity, and public language models, in order to prevent technological centralization that benefits only a few players.
A partnership focused on innovation and self-reliance
France and India go beyond mere diplomatic exchanges: their partnership is reflected in mutual investments, joint projects, and ambitious goals. The France-India Year of Innovation, scheduled for 2026, will embody this dynamic of strengthened cooperation. This initiative will foster synergies among research laboratories, startups, manufacturers, and public institutions. The focus will be on technological sovereignty, the scaling up of computing capabilities, and the development of critical components.
Industrial projects are already underway in the fields of semiconductors, data centers, and supercomputers. France is banking on the synergy between its low-carbon energy infrastructure and India’s IT expertise. This synergy should enable both countries to establish themselves as credible players in the development of responsible AI on the international stage.
India has also been selected to host the next AI Summit, thereby reinforcing its role as a strategic partner and a driving force for balanced digital multilateralism. This decision builds on the momentum generated in Paris and confirms the shared commitment to continuing an open dialogue on governance, inclusion, and innovation.
The Complementarities Between France and India
India's Strength
- A vast pool of AI-trained talent (600,000 people per year)
- Use-case-driven startup ecosystem
- Powerful public digital infrastructure (India Stack, DEPA)
France's Strength
- Cutting-edge R&D and development of sovereign AI models
- Leadership in ethical AI, cybersecurity, and regulation
- Expertise in data protection and AI governance
Strengthening bilateral academic and scientific cooperation
Training is another pillar of this alliance. Both countries aim to provide large-scale training in artificial intelligence skills to young people and to reskill workers in sectors affected by automation. The goal is twofold: to anticipate changes in the labor market and ensure a fair distribution of the benefits of AI. This project is all the more strategic given that India has a rapidly growing young population, while France seeks to strengthen its pool of tech talent.
With this in mind, it is essential to increase support for Indo-French projects in applied AI, particularly in priority areas such as public health, sustainable agriculture, and climate change adaptation.
At the same time, the establishment of joint master’s programs and dual degrees in AI and data science would help cultivate bicultural talent capable of navigating both technological requirements and international legal and ethical frameworks.
Finally, we should promote cross-border mobility through scholarship programs, joint supervision of doctoral theses, and exchange programs for faculty members. These exchanges must be two-way, facilitating not only the recruitment of Indian talent in France but also the placement of French researchers in Indian technology hubs.
Working Together to Develop Responsible, Ethical, and Inclusive AI
While India favors a technical approach to AI governance (audit tools, privacy-by-design, linguistic diversity, synthetic data generation), its legal framework remains relatively unstructured. France, on the other hand, has a solid track record in regulation (the GDPR and the European AI Act), grounded in the protection of fundamental rights.
France could thus assist India in developing its future regulatory framework for AI by sharing its risk assessment methodologies and best practices in the area of ethical AI. This could take the form of joint workshops, joint regulatory tests, or work on the interoperability of regulatory frameworks.
Furthermore, France and India would benefit from jointly testing and implementing international standards for auditing, ethical certification, and system security. By actively participating in multilateral forums such as the OECD, the G20, and the United Nations, the two countries can promote a shared vision of AI that respects cultural diversity, is inclusive by design, and supports sustainable development.
