iCreate and Hauts-de-France Announce Bilateral Deep Tech Innovation Corridor to Accelerate India-France Startup Collaboration
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.
iCreate and Hauts-de-France Announce Bilateral Deep Tech Innovation Corridor
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.
The corridor will create a direct pathway for startup collaboration, market access, pilot deployments and technology commercialisation between India and France.
Announced at Bharat Innovates 2026
The partnership was announced in Nice, France, at Bharat Innovates 2026, the Government of India’s flagship innovation initiative, on 14 June 2026.
The MoU forms part of a broader set of India–France institutional agreements aimed at strengthening collaboration in technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Connecting India and France’s Deep Tech Ecosystems
The India–Hauts-de-France Bilateral 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 technology sectors.
Focus Areas
The corridor will focus on high-impact sectors including:
HealthTech
ClimateTech
AgriTech
FoodTech
e-Mobility
Aerospace and Defence
Physical AI and Deep Tech Systems
Driving Cross-Border Startup Growth
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.
An Implementation-Led Partnership
The corridor combines the strengths of iCreate and the Hauts-de-France Regional Council with support from key ecosystem partners.
EuraTechnologies, one of Europe’s leading startup and innovation hubs, and Nord France Invest, the region’s investment promotion agency, will support the implementation of the initiative.
A Joint Steering Committee comprising representatives from both sides will oversee implementation and drive measurable outcomes.
Connecting Talent, Research and Entrepreneurship
Speaking on the occasion, 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.”
He added that the initiative will empower entrepreneurs from both ecosystems to address global challenges and build globally competitive ventures.
François Decoster, Regional Vice-President, Hauts-de-France, highlighted the region’s strengths in deep tech innovation, research, industrial capabilities and investment networks.
The partnership will create opportunities for startups from India and France to collaborate, scale internationally and accelerate the commercialisation of cutting-edge technologies.
Combining Complementary Strengths
The partnership brings together Hauts-de-France’s strengths in research, industry, investment and European market access with iCreate’s deep tech ecosystem and India’s manufacturing capabilities.
This combination creates a platform for startups from both regions to innovate, collaborate and scale across global markets.
Building on iCreate’s Deep Tech Ecosystem
The initiative builds on iCreate’s experience in supporting deep tech startups across areas including mobility, energy, healthcare, aerospace, defence, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing.
The collaboration further strengthens iCreate’s efforts to connect Indian innovators with international markets, industry partners and global innovation ecosystems.
A Model for Future India-Europe Partnerships
The India–Hauts-de-France Bilateral 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.
Through this corridor, iCreate is building new pathways for deep tech startups to access global markets, forge international partnerships and move from innovation to impact.
Connecting innovators across borders to accelerate deep tech from innovation to global impact.
