India and France Launch ATL Bridge to Connect School Innovation Labs and Young Innovators

India and France have strengthened the innovation-driven cooperation by launching the India-France ATL Bridge which is the pioneering initiative designed to connect young innovators from both countries. It was announced during the India-France Year of Innovation 2026 and this program aims to promote creativity, entrepreneurship, and technological learning via school-level innovation labs which are inspired by the India’s successful Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) model.

India-France Innovation Cooperation

The initiative was formalized through the Letter of Intent (LoI) exchanged between Atal Innovation Mission and La Fondation Dassault Systèmes on the sidelines of the Bharat Innovates 2026.

The event was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron in Nice, France and highlights the growing strategic partnership between the two nations in innovation and education.

First School Innovation Lab in France

A key outcome of the initiative is the establishment of the first School Innovation Lab in the France based on India’s Atal Tinkering Lab framework.

This lab will serve as the platform where students from India and France can collaborate on to the innovative projects, exchange ideas and develop entrepreneurial skills.

The partnership seeks to create the opportunities for students to address real-world challenges through technology, creativity and problem-solving while encouraging the cross-cultural learning and cooperation.

What is the India-France ATL Bridge?

The India-France ATL Bridge is designed to connect school innovation ecosystems in both countries.

It will facilitate the student exchanges, joint innovation projects, entrepreneurial program and capacity-building initiatives between both nations.

Through this platform, young innovators will gain the exposure to international collaboration and learn how the innovation can be applied to solve the global challenges.

The initiative also aims to strengthen institutional partnerships between educational and innovation organizations in India and France.

Global Recognition of India’s ATL Model

Speaking at the event, AIM Mission Director Deepak Bagla has described that the initiative as the reflection of growing international confidence in India’s innovation ecosystem.

He emphasized that the innovation should not be limited by just geography and that every young person should have the opportunity to create, innovate and lead.

The adoption of the ATL framework by France represents the major international recognition of India’s efforts to nurture the innovation at the school level.

Atal Innovation Mission and Atal Tinkering Labs

It was launched in the year 2016 under NITI Aayog, the Atal Innovation Mission aims to foster the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across the country.

Under the program around more than 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs have been established in the schools across India.

These labs have provided over the 11 million students with hands-on experience in emerging technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence, electronics, coding, 3D design and Internet of Things (IoT).

Significance for India-France Relations

The ATL Bridge aligns with the broader vision of the deepening India-France cooperation in education, technology and entrepreneurship.

By connecting the young innovators from both countries, the initiative is expected to strengthen people-to-people ties and also to create future opportunities for collaboration in science, innovation and start-up ecosystems.