India and France launch ATL Bridge to support young innovators

Guided by the shared resolve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron to deepen innovation-led cooperation between India and France, Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, and La Fondation Dassault Systèmes have established the India-France ATL Bridge.

The initiative will enable collaboration among young innovators in both countries and establishes the first School Innovation Lab in France, inspired by India’s Atal Tinkering Lab framework.

The ATL Bridge will serve as a strategic platform for cross-border innovation programmes, entrepreneurial exchanges, knowledge sharing, capacity building and joint innovation activities.

By enabling young learners to co-create solutions to real-world challenges, the initiative strengthens early-stage innovation capabilities and deepens bilateral innovation cooperation between India and France.

The ATL Bridge initiative forms part of the India–France Innovation Year 2026, reflecting both countries’ commitment to expanding cooperation in science, technology and education. 

The model builds on India’s experience with Atal Tinkering Labs, which introduce students to design thinking, robotics, electronics, 3D design and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.