The Indo-French Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IFCCI) and the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, Government of India, have signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) on 19 September 2025 to strengthen collaboration in education and innovation. The signing took place at the Embassy of France in New Delhi during the 3rd Edition of IFCCI CSR Connect Day 2025, held under the theme “Collaborating for Scale – Cross-Sectoral Partnerships for Sustainable Development.”The event brought together over 100 participants, including Indian and French corporate leaders, diplomats, government representatives, NGOs, and CSR stakeholders. The SoI aims to enhance STEM education, digital literacy, and innovation-driven learning through IFCCI’s Indo-French corporate network.Under the partnership, IFCCI and AIM will mobilise CSR and corporate support to improve school infrastructure, upgrade curriculum delivery, and deepen industry-school engagement through Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL) programmes. The initiative will be scaled nationwide to create a long-term, sustainable impact in schools and underserved communities.The ceremony was graced by H.E. Mr Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France to India, who praised IFCCI’s leadership in fostering Indo-French partnerships for social development. He said, “The IFCCI CSR Connect Seminar has become a vital platform for strengthening Indo-French cooperation in social impact. The upcoming India-France Year of Innovation 2026 will not only advance technology but also social progress as a key part of our bilateral relationship.”Since 2023, the IFCCI CSR Department has executed 86 projects for member companies, reaching more than 15,000 individuals. Its initiatives span education, healthcare, women’s empowerment, livelihood generation, and green energy, all aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).Deepak Bagla, Mission Director, AIM, NITI Aayog, said, “From the northernmost village school to the southernmost tip of India, innovation is thriving. AIM has already impacted over 11 million student entrepreneurs and ranks among the world’s largest grassroots innovation programmes. The partnership with IFCCI will help expand this innovation-driven learning even further.”Ms Payal S. Kanwar, Director General of IFCCI, added, “This collaboration empowers India’s youth with 21st-century skills. Our goal is to bridge the gap between industry and education, ensuring innovation reaches every student, especially in underserved regions.”The joint initiative will identify and support selected government schools for ATL implementation, teacher training, innovation challenges, and ecosystem development. The partnership reinforces the shared vision of IFCCI and AIM to build an inclusive, innovation-led future for India.