Prof. Karun Rawat, Dean of International Relations, IIT Roorkee, participated in a strategic engagement with Inria (French National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology) as part of the IIT/IISc delegation visit to France from 8–12 June 2026.
The delegation had the opportunity to interact with Dr. Bruno Sportisse, CEO of INRIA; Dr. Cécile Vigouroux, Director of International Relations; Ambassador Henri Verdier, CEO of the INRIA Foundation; Dr. Karteek Alahari, Deputy Scientific Advisor in charge of Artificial Intelligence; and Mr. Thomas Amand, International Partnerships Officer for Asia.
The meeting featured a roundtable discussion and presentations on INRIA’s international engagement, the Binational Center initiative, artificial intelligence research activities, and the role of the INRIA Foundation in advancing innovation and scientific excellence. The discussions provided valuable insights into France’s digital science and technology ecosystem and highlighted opportunities for collaboration between leading Indian institutions and French research organizations.
Participants explored potential areas of cooperation in artificial intelligence, digital technologies, advanced computing, joint research initiatives, researcher mobility, and innovation-driven partnerships. The exchange also offered an opportunity to better understand INRIA’s approach to cutting-edge research and its contributions to addressing global technological challenges.
The delegation also visited STATION F, the world’s largest startup campus and incubator, which hosts a vibrant ecosystem of entrepreneurs, investors, technology companies, and innovation support organizations. The visit provided valuable insights into France’s startup and innovation landscape, showcasing best practices in entrepreneurship, incubation, technology commercialization, and venture development. The interaction highlighted opportunities for strengthening innovation-led collaborations and fostering entrepreneurial ecosystems between India and France.
The engagements strengthened India–France collaboration in research, AI, digital technologies, innovation, and entrepreneurship, while reinforcing IIT Roorkee’s commitment to impactful global partnerships.
Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee
Ministry of External Affairs, India
French Embassy in India / Ambassade de France en Inde