New Delhi [India], February 18 (ANI): In a landmark move to strengthen bilateral cooperation in health care and emerging technologies, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, along with French President Emmanuel Macron, inaugurated the Indo-French Centre for AI in Health at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, on Wednesday.
According to an official release, the center is a pioneering initiative designed to advance AI-driven research, medical education and clinical innovation, addressing complex health care challenges while promoting interdisciplinary collaboration between India and France.
Speaking at the inauguration, President Macron emphasized the importance of building sovereign AI capacity and talent, stating, “India and France are committed to developing the computing capacity and talent necessary to build our own trusted AI systems, as we cannot rely solely on technologies created and managed elsewhere. Artificial Intelligence must serve humanity — with strong protections for children, transparency in algorithms to address bias, and a firm commitment to preserving linguistic and cultural diversity.”
The launch coincided with the Rencontres Universitaires et Scientifiques de Haut Niveau 2026, a high-level academic and scientific forum held at AIIMS on February 18 and 19 and coordinated by the French Embassy.
A dedicated session titled “Indo-French Forum: AI in Brain Health and Global Healthcare” brought together scientists, clinicians, policymakers and academic leaders from both countries to explore collaborative solutions in global health, the release stated.
The center has been established under a joint memorandum of understanding between AIIMS, Sorbonne University and the Paris Brain Institute, with additional collaboration from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and other leading French institutions.
The initiative builds on ongoing India-France cooperation in priority areas such as digital health, antimicrobial resistance, human resources for health and the responsible use of health data.
As part of the 2026 program, President Macron interacted with young Indian innovators, including Priyanka Das Rajkakati and Manan Suri, during a session moderated by Clara Chappaz, highlighting youth-led innovation and cross-border collaboration in AI.
The program also featured a special segment on “Major Scientific and Academic Cooperation Highlights Between France and India” at the Jawaharlal Auditorium, moderated by Prof. Vijay Raghavan and Dr. Thierry Coulhon.
During the visit, several AIIMS doctors took a selfie with President Macron, capturing a moment of engagement with young researchers.
The session highlighted key milestones and emerging avenues of collaboration in higher education, research and innovation between the two countries, reflecting the depth of the Indo-French knowledge partnership.
Nadda reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in AI-enabled health care, emphasizing the potential of the center to foster innovation, capacity building and global knowledge exchange.
President Macron also posted on X, stating, “In New Delhi, we are inaugurating the Franco-Indian Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, led by AIIMS, Sorbonne Universite, and the Brain Institute. Research, training, innovation: France and India are mobilising AI for the common good!”
The launch marks a significant milestone in India-France relations, reflecting both countries’ shared vision for ethical, inclusive and globally beneficial AI in health care. (ANI)
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