Announcement
On 15 June 2026 in Nice, France, iCreate – India’s leading deep‑tech startup incubator – signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hauts-de-France Regional Council to create the India–Hauts-de-France Bilateral Corridor for Deep Tech Innovation. The MoU was announced at Bharat Innovates 2026, the Government of India’s flagship innovation event, which was jointly inaugurated on 14 June 2026 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron.
Corridor Scope and Objectives
The corridor will focus on HealthTech, ClimateTech, AgriTech, FoodTech, e‑Mobility, Aerospace and Defence, and Physical AI and Deep Tech Systems. Over the next 18 months, the partnership aims to support more than 12 startups, facilitate at least three joint pilot deployments across Indian and European markets, and launch the first bilateral startup cohort comprising innovators from both ecosystems.
Implementation Structure
Execution will be supported by EuraTechnologies, a leading European startup and innovation hub, and Nord France Invest, the region’s investment promotion agency. A Joint Steering Committee, comprising representatives from iCreate and the Hauts-de-France Regional Council, will oversee implementation and drive measurable outcomes.
Leadership Comments
Avinash Punekar, CEO of iCreate, stated that the corridor provides a platform for deep‑tech startups to access global markets, forge industry collaborations, and accelerate the journey from innovation to impact. François Decoster, Regional Vice‑President of Hauts-de-France, highlighted the region’s strong research, industrial capabilities, and investment networks, emphasizing that the partnership creates new opportunities for startups to scale internationally.
iCreate Track Record
Since its inception, iCreate has supported over 900 innovations and filed more than 100 patents through its incubation, acceleration programmes, mentorship, market connects, and funding. Notable startups nurtured by iCreate include ChargeZone, Clean Electric, Integra Robotics, Vijigi, Naxatra Labs, BioScan, Biokraft, Zero Drag, as well as 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.
Significance
The India–Hauts-de-France corridor is the first bilateral deep‑tech partnership between an Indian incubator and a French region and is expected to serve as a scalable model for future India‑Europe innovation collaborations, enabling startups, researchers, investors, and industry leaders to collaborate across borders and accelerate the global growth of emerging technologies.