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The program was developed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Thales Group, and a formal agreement was signed on 15 May 2006 by the foreign minister of France, Philippe Douste-Blazy and Thales Chairman and CEO Denis Ranque. The Group has already roped in some of Europe's most prestigious graduate schools, such as members of the ParisTech network (Polytechnique, Telecoms Paris, etc), HEC and ESSEC.

The program launched last year, is a comprehensive support package for graduate students in India, China and Russia, wishing to study in France. The Thales Group offered about 15 educational grants to Indian students in 2007 through Thales Academia.

The students can avail free intensive French-language training from the local Alliance Française before they leave for France. They are, then, invited to follow an advanced specialised course in engineering science or business management at a renowned French university or graduate schools of their choice.

Thales Academia's first year was quite successful with a total of 21 students involved in courses as varied as Masters of Computer Science and Masters of International Risk Management. In 2006, Indian students comprised 20% of the student intake.

Each student receives a Thales Academia grant of €13,000 per year, depending on the length of the course, in addition to the foreign ministry's benefits package (visa, social security, housing support, etc). They will be personally mentored by a Thales manager and offered a full-time internship with the Group