Université Paris-Saclay welcomes a delegation from the IITs and the Indian Institute of Science to strengthen Franco-Indian cooperation
As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen academic and scientific ties between France and India, Université Paris-Saclay welcomed a high-level delegation from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) on 9 June. The visit showcased the strengths of the Paris-Saclay ecosystem and paved the way for new collaborations in education, research and innovation.
On 9 June, representatives from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) visited Université Paris-Saclay to discover the unique higher education, research and innovation ecosystem of the Saclay plateau, one of Europe’s leading scientific and technological hubs.
An immersion in the heart of the university
The delegation was welcomed by Université Paris-Saclay President Camille Galap, who presented the university’s strategic priorities alongside Delphine Placidi-Frot, Vice-President for International Relations. Xavier Apolinarski, Vice-President for Innovation, then outlined the strengths of the Paris-Saclay innovation ecosystem, while Rachid Bennacer, Deputy Vice-President for Science and Engineering, highlighted the breadth and excellence of the university’s research activities. The morning concluded with a tour of the campus, giving participants the opportunity to experience first-hand Paris-Saclay’s scientific, academic and innovation environment.
Turning partnership projects into reality
Existing collaborations with several IITs and the IISc already demonstrate the exceptional potential of partnerships with Indian institutions.
During the visit, several agreements were signed, paving the way for new areas of cooperation:
- CentraleSupélec signed student exchange agreements with IIT Delhi and IIT Kanpur, as well as a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IIT Madras.
- An innovation component was also added to the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IIT Bombay as part of the India France Incubator Bridge, an institutional platform that connects incubators, academic innovation centres, technology transfer offices, universities, research institutions and early-stage deep-tech start-ups with global innovation partners.
From left to right: Guillaume Garreta, Director of International and European Affairs at Université Paris-Saclay; Kulkarni Shrikrishna Vyankatesh, Dean of Research and Development, IIT Bombay; and Camille Galap, President of Université Paris-Saclay.
Furthermore, the projects developed with IIT Bombay - including joint workshops in chemistry and energy, joint conferences on artificial intelligence, high-level reciprocal visits and new opportunities for bilateral funding - reflect this shared ambition.
Cooperation with IIT Madras, particularly in student mobility, and with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore, including a quantum science workshop scheduled for July 2026, together with partnerships involving other leading Indian institutions, also opens up promising new opportunities.
A shared ambition driven by innovation
Université Paris-Saclay aims to build on this momentum by further promoting student mobility, developing joint research projects and strengthening collaboration between innovation ecosystems. In the context of the France-India Year of Innovation and the forthcoming Bharat Innovates Forum, the agreements signed during the visit send a strong signal of the shared commitment to building long-term partnerships in support of science, education and innovation.
The delegation, accompanied by Philippe Maurin, French Higher Education Cooperation Attaché in Mumbai, included representatives from IIT Madras, IIT Gandhinagar, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Delhi, IIT Bhubaneswar, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), IIT Ropar, IIT Kanpur, IIT Bombay, IIT (BHU), IIT Roorkee, IIT Dharwad and IIT Hyderabad.
