Mission to India: exploring new opportunities for bilateral cooperation
02/01/2026
As part of its efforts to develop international cooperation, and with the upcoming Franco-Indian Year of Innovation in 2026, CDEFI took part in a week-long exploratory mission at the invitation of the French Institute in India, alongside France Universités and Conférence des grandes écoles (CGE). The aim of this mission was to gain a better understanding of the functioning and priorities of the Indian higher education and research system, while promoting the French model to identify new opportunities for academic and scientific collaboration for our institutions.
First institutional meetings in New Delhi
The mission began in New Delhi with a series of meetings with key players in Indian higher education. Discussions with the University Grants Commission (UGC) provided an opportunity to address the broad strategic orientations and regulatory framework of the Indian university system. Two visits were also made to institutions, namely the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi (IIIT Delhi) and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi), both leading institutions in academic excellence and research in engineering and science.
This first stage was also marked by a meeting with Mr. Thierry Mathou, French Ambassador to India, devoted to the challenges and prospects of bilateral cooperation in higher education and research, highlighting the strategic importance of the Franco-Indian partnership.
Pune: immersion in the innovation and research ecosystem
The second stage of the mission took place in Pune, nicknamed “the Oxford of the East,” a major hub for research and innovation in the country. The conferences visited the Venture Center Pune, an incubator and meeting place for scientific research and entrepreneurship. The visit to the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) provided an opportunity to discover its academic activities and scientific orientations, followed by discussions with the Center for Development of Advanced Computing and the National Chemical Laboratory, illustrating the diversity and vitality of Indian research.
The exploration of this ecosystem continued the second day with visits to Symbiosis International University and its Institute of Technology, the Inter-University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, and the National Center for Cell Sciences, offering a rich overview of the scientific disciplines covered and possible synergies with French institutions.
Scientific excellence and leading institutions in Mumbai
The mission ended in Mumbai with meetings at two leading institutions. Discussions with the University of Mumbai, through its National Center for Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies, highlighted India's advances in the field of nanosciences. The visit to IIT Bombay concluded the mission, confirming the central role of this institution in training, research, and innovation on an international scale.
Coming soon: the RUSH event - High-level academic and scientific meeting
In 2026, alongside the Summit on the Impact of Artificial Intelligence, which will be attended by the President of the French Republic, the French Embassy in India is organizing the High-level academic and scientific meeting on the future of Franco-Indian cooperation in New Delhi, on February 18th and 19th. This event will promote and develop academic and scientific cooperation between the two countries, a necessary asset for strengthening strategic partnerships with India.
The event aims to be the largest ever organized between France and India, and this mission carried out by the conferences will prepare and support French institutions interested in this initiative.
CDEFI would like to warmly thank the French Institute in India for hosting and organizing this mission, as well as all the Indian institutions met for the quality of the discussions. We would also like to thank France Universités and Conférence des grandes écoles for this joint mission, which opens promising prospects for cooperation in the service of French higher education and research.
First institutional meetings in New Delhi
The mission began in New Delhi with a series of meetings with key players in Indian higher education. Discussions with the University Grants Commission (UGC) provided an opportunity to address the broad strategic orientations and regulatory framework of the Indian university system. Two visits were also made to institutions, namely the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi (IIIT Delhi) and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi), both leading institutions in academic excellence and research in engineering and science.
This first stage was also marked by a meeting with Mr. Thierry Mathou, French Ambassador to India, devoted to the challenges and prospects of bilateral cooperation in higher education and research, highlighting the strategic importance of the Franco-Indian partnership.
Pune: immersion in the innovation and research ecosystem
The second stage of the mission took place in Pune, nicknamed “the Oxford of the East,” a major hub for research and innovation in the country. The conferences visited the Venture Center Pune, an incubator and meeting place for scientific research and entrepreneurship. The visit to the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) provided an opportunity to discover its academic activities and scientific orientations, followed by discussions with the Center for Development of Advanced Computing and the National Chemical Laboratory, illustrating the diversity and vitality of Indian research.
The exploration of this ecosystem continued the second day with visits to Symbiosis International University and its Institute of Technology, the Inter-University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, and the National Center for Cell Sciences, offering a rich overview of the scientific disciplines covered and possible synergies with French institutions.
Scientific excellence and leading institutions in Mumbai
The mission ended in Mumbai with meetings at two leading institutions. Discussions with the University of Mumbai, through its National Center for Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies, highlighted India's advances in the field of nanosciences. The visit to IIT Bombay concluded the mission, confirming the central role of this institution in training, research, and innovation on an international scale.
Coming soon: the RUSH event - High-level academic and scientific meeting
In 2026, alongside the Summit on the Impact of Artificial Intelligence, which will be attended by the President of the French Republic, the French Embassy in India is organizing the High-level academic and scientific meeting on the future of Franco-Indian cooperation in New Delhi, on February 18th and 19th. This event will promote and develop academic and scientific cooperation between the two countries, a necessary asset for strengthening strategic partnerships with India.
The event aims to be the largest ever organized between France and India, and this mission carried out by the conferences will prepare and support French institutions interested in this initiative.
CDEFI would like to warmly thank the French Institute in India for hosting and organizing this mission, as well as all the Indian institutions met for the quality of the discussions. We would also like to thank France Universités and Conférence des grandes écoles for this joint mission, which opens promising prospects for cooperation in the service of French higher education and research.
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The Conference of Deans of French Schools of Engineering (CDEFI) is a non-profit association of Deans of French state and private Schools of Engineering and universities of technology authorised by the CTI (a French accreditation agency) to deliver the French Engineering degree.
Created in 1976 by a decree issued by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, CDEFI is the local, national and international political and public voice of French Schools of Engineering and universities of technology.
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