The French Embassy of France is strongly supporting scientific and academic cooperation between France and India, two countries with a very high scientific background and a long tradition in cooperation. Tools provided by France includes scientific mobility, high level research funding and networking support.

French excellence 

India is a major partner of France, and the strengthening of our university and scientific cooperation is a key axis of the bilateral strategic partnership. France is one of the top country in terms of research and innovation, with 78 Nobel prizes (4th in the world) and 14 Field medals (2nd in the world). French scientists have been rewarded by the most prestigious prize and ranks very high in terms of publications, patents and unicorns. With domestic research and development spending equal to 2.25% of GDP, France ranks 7th in the world. CNRS is ranked 2nd worldwide for co-publications with higher impact.

French Science is open to the world

French research is intensively integrated in the international research dynamics:  the international co-publication share is 56% and 37% of PhD studying in France are coming from abroad! France also hosted 415 R&D international centers in 2024, making it the most attractive destination for innovation investment in Europe (ranked 1st in Europe for AI and Quantum research with 41 projects).

The Indo-French Ecosystem in Research and Innovation 

Scientific collaboration with India is long-standing and covers many fields, including the most sensitive (space, defense, nuclear). France is India’s 8th largest scientific partner with around 3000 co-publications per year and devotes each year nearly 5 million euros to scientific and technological cooperation with India, considering the endowment to institutions supported by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE), mobility programs, student scholarships, and actions financed by other French research organizations.

The French S&T ecosystem in India in a nutshell

  • The Franco-Indian Center for the Promotion of Advanced Research (IFPAR/CEFIPRA), a bilateral structure that funds scientific projects involving actors from the two countries, established 40 years ago.
  • The French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS)  which has a representative office, and has 4 International Research Laboratories in India.
  • Two research units abroad (UMIFRE) placed under the dual supervision of the CNRS and the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE), namely the Centre de Sciences Humaines (CSH) in Delhi and the French Institute of Puducherry (IFP).
  • The French National Center for Space Studies (CNES) has a representative office in Bangalore, while the French Center for Atomic Energy (CEA) has an office in Delhi.
  • Other French research organization, such as IRD, INRAE, INRIA, INSERM, IFREMER and Institut Pasteur have a representative or a programs in India.
  • 28 R&D centers of French companies in India.

Activities