By Sitaram Mewati
His Excellency Patrick Leverino, Consul General of France in Mumbai, attended the grand finale of “Seed the Future Entrepreneurs”, a flagship innovation contest that brought together young innovators from across India. He was accompanied by Philippe Maurin, Attaché for Scientific & Higher Education Cooperation at the Consulate General of France in Mumbai.
Sharing details on its official LinkedIn platform, the Consulate General of France in Mumbai highlighted the participation of young innovators and the importance of India-France cooperation in innovation, education and technology.
Organised by La Fondation Dassault Systèmes in collaboration with Atal Innovation Mission and Michelin, the contest provided a platform for students to showcase creative ideas and practical solutions addressing real-world challenges.
The 2026 edition of the competition was organised as part of the India-France Year of Innovation 2026, launched by French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai in February 2026. The initiative reflects the expanding partnership between India and France in the fields of science, research, education and technology.
The competition began last September with participation from 218 schools across India. Following several rounds of evaluation, 10 teams of students aged between 12 and 16 years were selected for the grand finale, where they presented innovative projects focused on solving diverse challenges.
The event celebrated the creativity, curiosity and entrepreneurial spirit of young minds while emphasising the importance of encouraging innovation and problem-solving skills among students.
The finale also marked the first participation of the Lycée Français International de Mumbai (LFIM) in the competition, further strengthening educational and cultural exchanges between India and France.
H.E. Patrick Leverino congratulated all participants and winners and appreciated the efforts of La Fondation Dassault Systèmes, Atal Innovation Mission and Michelin for supporting the next generation of changemakers.
The initiative highlighted the role of international collaboration in nurturing young talent and creating opportunities for students to transform ideas into meaningful solutions for the future.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
