The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog and La Fondation Dassault Systemes have established the India-France ATL Bridge to promote collaboration between the young innovators of both countries. A Letter of Intent (LoI) formalising this cooperation was exchanged in France between Deepak Bagla, Director of AIM, NITI Aayog, and Marie-Pierre Aulas, Managing Director of La Fondation Dassault Systemes. The initiative was launched on the occasion of Bharat Innovates 2026 in Nice, France, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Inspired by India's Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL) model, the initiative sets up the first school innovation laboratory in France, providing a structured platform for young students to collaborate and deepen bilateral innovation cooperation. The ATL Bridge will serve as a strategic platform for cross-border innovation programmes, entrepreneurship exchange and deeper cooperation between the innovation ecosystems of the two countries through knowledge exchange, capacity building and joint innovation activities.
Launched during the India-France Year of Innovation 2026, the initiative reflects a shared commitment to preparing talent for the future. It is rooted in India's civilisational philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, meaning the whole world is one family. AIM was launched in 2016 to foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship and contribute to the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047. Since 2016, over 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs have been set up across India, exposing more than 1.1 crore students to design thinking, robotics, electronics, 3D design and printing, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.