IIT Delhi and Sorbonne University of France have deepened their strategic partnership by announcing joint academic programmes scheduled to begin in 2026. The two institutions will offer a joint Master of Science (MSc) in Biological Science and a joint Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programme, creating new opportunities for students and researchers from both countries. The expansion marks a significant step in the growing India-France strategic partnership in higher education and research.
The Expanded Partnership
In June 2026, a high-level delegation from IIT Delhi led by Director Prof. Rangan Banerjee visited Sorbonne University in Paris to strengthen institutional ties and explore new avenues of collaboration. The visit resulted in the formal launch of the joint MSc in Biological Science and the joint PhD programme, both featuring two-way student mobility that allows students to study at both institutions.
The discussions during the visit went beyond healthcare, focusing on expanding the partnership into frontier domains such as Material Science, Artificial Intelligence, Informatics, Computer Science, and Robotics. These interdisciplinary areas were identified as having high societal and technological relevance, reflecting the shared ambition of both institutions to address emerging global challenges through collaborative research and education.
Prof. Rangan Banerjee described the partnership as one that envisions “creating a vibrant ecosystem that enables transformative research, talent development, and societal impact.” The joint programmes will draw on the complementary strengths of both institutions, giving students access to faculty expertise, research infrastructure, and academic networks across India and France.
Background: The Franco-Indian Integrated Health Campus
The expanded partnership builds on the strong foundation of the Franco-Indian Integrated Health Campus, which was jointly established by IIT Delhi and Sorbonne University as a pioneering platform for interdisciplinary research and education in healthcare. This campus brings together expertise from engineering, medicine, life sciences, social sciences, and digital technologies to develop innovative solutions for contemporary healthcare challenges.
Since its establishment, the Integrated Health Campus has enabled a range of academic activities, including joint research projects, student internships, faculty and student mobility programmes, workshops, and scientific exchanges. The success of this initiative laid the groundwork for the current expansion into broader scientific domains and formal degree programmes.
The partnership originally began with a Memorandum of Understanding signed in June 2023 as part of the French government’s Franco-Indian Campus for Health initiative. This initial agreement focused on research collaborations and student mobility, with a vision to gradually expand the fields of cooperation over several years.
Strategic Significance: India-France Academic Cooperation
The deepening of ties between IIT Delhi and Sorbonne University aligns closely with the broader India-France strategic partnership, which has identified education, research, innovation, health, and digital technologies as key pillars of bilateral cooperation. The collaboration supports the joint vision of both countries to strengthen people-to-people connections and build long-term scientific partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region.
The significance of this partnership was acknowledged at the highest levels of leadership. French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted the IIT Delhi-Sorbonne University collaboration during his address at Bharat Innovates 2026, describing it as a flagship initiative of Indo-French scientific and educational cooperation. Bharat Innovates 2026, held in Nice, France, was jointly inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Macron, underscoring the strategic importance of science and technology ties between the two nations.
Looking ahead, IIT Delhi and Sorbonne University plan to further expand their cooperation through enhanced sharing of research infrastructure and facilities, increased student and faculty exchanges, co-supervised doctoral research, joint degree programmes, international schools and workshops, and collaborative research initiatives addressing global challenges.
About the Institutions
IIT Delhi was established in 1961 and is one of the 23 Indian Institutes of Technology in the country. It was declared an Institution of Eminence in 2018. Located in Hauz Khas, New Delhi, the institute has consistently ranked among the top engineering institutions in India. It was ranked 118th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and holds the 2nd position in the NIRF Engineering category. IIT Delhi also has a satellite campus in Sonipat, Haryana, and an international campus in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The institute offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes across engineering, sciences, humanities, and management.
| Institution | Established | Location | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIT Delhi | 1961 | Hauz Khas, New Delhi | Institution of Eminence (2018); QS Rank 118 (2027); NIRF Engineering Rank 2 |
| Sorbonne University | 1257 (origin); 2018 (current form) | Paris, France | 33 Nobel laureates; 6 Fields Medals; THE World Rank 76 (2026); QS Rank 72 (2026) |
Sorbonne University is a public research university in Paris, France, with a legacy dating back to 1257 when the College of Sorbonne was founded by Robert de Sorbon. In its current form, it was created in 2018 through the merger of Paris-Sorbonne University (Paris IV) and Pierre and Marie Curie University (Paris VI). Sorbonne University has 55,000 students, 6,400 faculty members, and three main faculties: Arts and Humanities, Science and Engineering, and Medicine. It is home to 33 Nobel Prize winners and 6 Fields Medal winners among its alumni and faculty. The university was ranked 76th in the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 and 72nd by QS World University Rankings 2026.
Key Takeaways
- IIT Delhi and Sorbonne University are launching a joint MSc in Biological Science and a joint PhD programme in 2026 with two-way student mobility.
- The partnership builds on the Franco-Indian Integrated Health Campus, established under the French government’s Franco-Indian Campus for Health initiative following an MoU signed in June 2023.
- French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted this collaboration at Bharat Innovates 2026 as a flagship initiative of Indo-French scientific cooperation.
- IIT Delhi was established in 1961, declared an Institution of Eminence in 2018, and is located in Hauz Khas, New Delhi.
- Sorbonne University traces its origins to 1257, was formed in its current shape in 2018 by merging Paris-Sorbonne (Paris IV) and Pierre and Marie Curie University (Paris VI), and has produced 33 Nobel Prize winners.
