India-France Space Cooperation Enters New Phase with Focus on Human Spaceflight and Start-ups
India and France have elevated their space cooperation to include human spaceflight, microgravity research, and enhanced private sector collaboration, as announced during a high-level meeting between Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh and French Minister Prof. Philippe Baptiste in New Delhi. The partnership, which spans over six decades since initial sounding rocket experiments in the 1960s, now encompasses joint satellite missions, launch vehicle technologies, and India's ambitious Gaganyaan human spaceflight program.
France's space agency CNES is providing concrete support to India's Gaganyaan program through supply of consumables and training of flight surgeons, with both countries initiating discussions on microgravity research and parabolic flights related to human spaceflight. The third joint satellite mission TRISHNA is progressing well, building on previous successful collaborations including Megha-Tropiques and SARAL satellites jointly built by ISRO and CNES.
India's space sector reforms have created significant new opportunities, with over 400 Indian space start-ups now operating in rocket building, satellite construction, and space applications. Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized that the next phase of cooperation should bring together government institutions, industries, and start-ups from both countries to create a larger ecosystem and wider resource pool.
The 2026 India-France Year of Innovation, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the French President in February 2026, provides an important platform for advancing partnership in innovation and emerging technologies. Specific events include the upcoming Water Cycle and TRISHNA Mission event in Bengaluru on October 11, where ISRO will contribute outreach material and senior officials will speak on the TRISHNA satellite and its applications.
Beyond space cooperation, the partnership extends to multiple scientific domains including biotechnology, digital sciences, and ocean sciences through institutions like CEFIPRA and Indo-French joint centers. Dr. Singh highlighted opportunities in Blue Economy cooperation, particularly relating to India's Deep Ocean Mission which seeks to explore scientific and resource potential of deep oceans.
Prof. Baptiste confirmed France's strong interest in expanding cooperation in human spaceflight, astronaut health, microgravity research, and connecting research institutions and start-ups from both countries. The meeting included senior officials from both sides, including Secretaries of Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and Biotechnology departments from India, and diplomatic and space affairs representatives from France.