IIT Gandhinagar Strengthens Global Footprint Through India-France Research Partnership

GANDHINAGAR : In a significant step toward expanding international research and academic cooperation, the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) has joined a landmark India-France collaboration that brings together some of the most prestigious institutions from both countries. The initiative is expected to create new opportunities for cutting-edge research, innovation and academic exchanges in emerging fields of science and technology.

The partnership was formalised through a Declaration of Intent signed in Nice, France, on June 14 during Bharat Innovates 2026. The agreement unites 11 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and Udice, a consortium representing 13 leading French research-intensive universities.

The collaboration will initially focus on multidisciplinary deep technologies and their real-world applications, while also encouraging long-term cooperation in education, research and innovation.

IIT Gandhinagar is among the key Indian institutions participating in the initiative. On the French side, the alliance includes globally recognised universities such as Université Côte d’Azur, Sorbonne Université, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, Université Paris-Saclay and Université de Bordeaux.

The partnership aims to facilitate student, faculty and researcher exchanges, joint research projects, academic publications, conferences and other collaborative activities. It is expected to strengthen knowledge sharing and help build enduring research networks between India and France.

Prof. Rajat Moona, Director of IIT Gandhinagar, who signed the declaration on behalf of the participating Indian institutions, highlighted the growing importance of international cooperation in research.

“Research and innovation today increasingly rely on collaboration between institutions and across borders. This initiative brings together leading academic institutions from India and France and opens up exciting opportunities for our students, faculty and researchers to learn from each other and work on problems of shared interest,” he said.

The agreement marks a major milestone in India-France academic relations and is expected to accelerate collaborative research in advanced technologies. For IIT Gandhinagar, the initiative opens new avenues for global engagement, enabling students and researchers to participate in international projects while contributing to solutions for shared global challenges.

As the partnership evolves, both sides are expected to explore a wide range of collaborative opportunities that could shape the future of innovation-driven education and research.