India and France on Sunday launched the India-France ATL Bridge, a landmark initiative aimed at strengthening bilateral innovation cooperation by connecting young innovators through school-level innovation labs inspired by India’s Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) model.
The initiative was formalised through a Letter of Intent (LoI) exchanged between Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, and La Fondation Dassault Systèmes on the sidelines of Bharat Innovates 2026 in Nice, France. The event was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron as part of the India-France Year of Innovation 2026.
Under the initiative, the first School Innovation Lab in France will be established based on India’s Atal Tinkering Lab framework, creating a structured platform for students in both countries to collaborate on innovation and entrepreneurship projects. The LoI was exchanged between AIM Mission Director Deepak Bagla and La Fondation Dassault Systèmes Managing Director Marie-Pierre Aulas.
The India-France ATL Bridge will facilitate cross-border innovation programmes, entrepreneurial exchanges, capacity-building initiatives and joint projects, enabling students to co-create solutions to real-world challenges while strengthening ties between the innovation ecosystems of the two countries.
Speaking on the occasion, Deepak Bagla said the initiative reflected the growing global confidence in India’s innovation journey and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and international cooperation. He described the establishment of a School Innovation Lab in France as the sharing of a vision that every young person should have the opportunity to innovate, create and lead regardless of geography.
Marie-Pierre Aulas said education remains the most powerful tool for building a sustainable future and praised the Atal Tinkering Labs model for nurturing creativity, experimentation and entrepreneurial skills among young learners. She said the partnership marked an important step in strengthening innovation-led cooperation between India and France.
Launched by Prime Minister Modi in 2016, the Atal Innovation Mission aims to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across India. Since its inception, more than 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs have been established across the country, benefiting over 11 million students through hands-on exposure to robotics, electronics, artificial intelligence, 3D design and other emerging technologies.
According to the government, India-France ATL Bridge reflects the shared vision of both countries to empower the next generation of innovators and deepen collaboration in education, technology and entrepreneurship.
