India and France have launched the India-France ATL Bridge, a pioneering initiative aimed at connecting young innovators, schools, and innovation ecosystems of both countries. Announced during the India-France Year of Innovation 2026, the program seeks to promote creativity, entrepreneurship, and technological learning among students through collaboration and innovation.
The initiative was formalized through a Letter of Intent (LoI) between the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and La Fondation Dassault Systèmes during the Bharat Innovates 2026 event in Nice, France, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron.
A major highlight of the partnership is the establishment of the first School Innovation Lab in France based on India’s successful Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL) model. The lab will enable students from both nations to collaborate on innovative projects, exchange ideas, and develop entrepreneurial and problem-solving skills.
The ATL Bridge will support student exchanges, joint innovation programs, and capacity-building initiatives while fostering cross-cultural learning and international cooperation. The initiative also reflects growing global recognition of India’s innovation ecosystem, which has established over 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs and empowered more than 11 million students with hands-on experience in emerging technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence, coding, and IoT.
The partnership is expected to strengthen India-France relations in education, technology, and entrepreneurship while creating new opportunities for future innovators to address global challenges through innovation.
