IISER Pune and IIT Bombay: UPCité’s first partners in India

Antoine Kouchner, Vice-President of Strategy and International Relations at Université Paris Cité, travelled to India for the official visit of the President, Emmanuel Macron, to the High-Level Scientific and Academic Meetings (RUSH). In this context, UPCité formalised its collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Pune and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Bombay.

In 2025, an interdisciplinary delegation from Université Paris Cité travelled to India to lay the groundwork for academic and scientific partnerships. The aim of this exploratory mission was to initiate a dialogue and create the conditions for future collaborations. UPCité already had ties with India. It is the third French institution in terms of joint scientific publications with Indian institutes, with 2,749 joint publications. Cooperation agreements had also been established with ISSER Pune, with Institut Pasteur, as well as a dual degree programme with IPGP.

Today, this joint commitment is coming to fruition. The Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in Pune and the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay have become the first Indian institutional partners of Université Paris Cité.

This agreement is being forged at a pivotal moment for Franco-Indian cooperation in higher education, research and innovation, as ties between the two countries continue to grow stronger. From 16 to 20 February 2026, New Delhi welcomed the Artificial Intelligence Summit, with France taking part — underscoring its determination to further expand strategic collaboration with India in science and technology.

A shared vision for research and international mobility. 

These partnerships are based on a shared vision of supporting teacher-researchers and promoting student mobility. On 18 February 2026, Université Paris Cité signed an inter-faculty framework agreement with IISER Pune and a similar agreement with IIT Bombay, complemented by a science mobility programme. These collaborations promote mobility among researchers, students, technical and administrative staff, while paving the way for the development of joint training programmes and joint research projects. They facilitate shared access to scientific and educational knowledge by supporting the joint organisation of symposiums, conferences, seminars and short training courses.

Contact

International Relations Department

cooperation.iro@u-paris.fr

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune

The Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune is a leading institution dedicated to teaching and research in the basic sciences. In 2012, it was designated an Institute of National Importance by an Act of the Indian Parliament, attesting to its academic prestige. Conceived as a top-tier science university, IISER Pune closely integrates education with cutting-edge research. Supported by a distinguished faculty and modern facilities, the institute enjoys growing national and international recognition in the field of science.

The agreement was signed by Prof. Sunil S. Bhagwat, Director of IISER Pune; Prof. Arnab Mukherjee, Dean International Relations and Outreach (IISER Pune) and Antoine Kouchner, Vice-President for Strategy and International Relations (UPCité). They were joined on this occasion by Naresh Sharma, Head of International Relations (IISER Pune); Fabien Chareix, Attaché for Academic and Scientific Cooperation at the French Institute in India and Philippe Morin, Higher Education Attaché at the Consulate General of France in Mumbai.

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay is one of India’s most prestigious public institutions in engineering and technology. Founded in 1958, it is part of the IIT network, recognized as Institutions of National Importance and renowned for academic excellence. The institute stands out for the quality of its education, the intensity of its research, and its strong links with industry and technological innovation.

Antoine Kouchner, Vice-President of Strategy and International Relations (UPCité) and Prof. Milind Atrey, Deputy Director Academics, Research and Translation (ITT Bombay). 

Université Paris Cité continues to pursue its goal of diversifying its partnerships around the world, draws on the rich exchanges and diversity of approaches and practices specific to each partner. This international outlook enhances its global visibility and promotes cooperation in research and training.

« Nothing is ever definitively achieved. Partnerships are built over time, through successive meetings and new connections. It is an ongoing, never-ending task, driven by exchanges and the trust built up over time. » Vice-President of Strategy and International Relations at Université Paris Cité.