Zoho Corp. Boosts Innovation: New R&D Campus, Asimov Robotics Acquisition, and Kerala Startup Mission Partnership

Zoho Corporation, the parent company of Zoho and ManageEngine, today announced that it has acquired Asimov Robotics, partnered with Kerala Startup Mission for its Deep Tech Product Studio initiative, and formed associations with startups and organisations for a range of R&D collaborations. These announcements, underlining Zoho's commitment to enhancing its R&D efforts and building deep-tech capabilities in India, were made during the inauguration of the company's new campus in Kottarakkara, Kerala.

The campus was inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Finance Minister K. N. Balagopal. From Zoho's side, Shailesh Davey, Co-founder and CEO, Zoho Corp.; Tony Thomas, Co-founder and CEO, Zoho US; and Sridhar Vembu, Co-founder and Chief Scientist, Zoho Corp., were present at the ceremony. Other dignitaries who graced the occasion included Shri Kodikunnil Suresh, Member of Parliament; Shri Anoop Ambika, CEO, KSUM; and Dr. S Somanath, former chairman of ISRO.

A New Model for Tech-Driven Rural Growth

"This collaboration with Zoho would be a significant step in strengthening Kerala's local ecosystems by enabling intellectual property creation, product research, and development from rural areas. The Zoho campus at Kottarakkara, currently nearing completion, stands as a pilot model for this transformative approach. This is a concerted effort between multiple agencies—which include employers, skilling, academia, infrastructure, capital, and public participation—and could be adopted as a model for the rest of the state," said K. N. Balagopal, Minister of Finance, Government of Kerala.

"Our Kottarakkara office will be dedicated to enhancing our R&D projects in various fields, starting with AI and Robotics. Apart from our own work in these fields, we will also be collaborating with like-minded deep-tech organisations to further amplify our efforts. Our goal remains the same: to develop these capabilities in India and make the country self-reliant in terms of critical technology. We are grateful for the support from the government and the local communities to make this endeavour a success," said Shailesh Davey, CEO and Co-founder, Zoho Corp.

Building the Future with Local Talent and Deep-Tech Focus

"Zoho’s entry into the state further validates our argument that the state’s startup ecosystem is an excellent enabler to attract big companies into the state through strategic acquisitions, investments, and corporate innovation programmes. We are extremely glad that Zoho has already tied up with several startups from the state in building an R&D ecosystem in Kottarakkara. We are also pleased that Zoho has agreed to partner with KSUM in establishing a Deep Tech Product Studio in Kerala," said Anoop P. Ambika, CEO, Kerala Startup Mission.

Rural Development through R&D

The Kottarakkara campus, which has a seating capacity of 250, will initially be dedicated to AI and robotics research. Zoho Corp. had opened its office in the town in 2024 and has been hiring locally and from other neighbouring towns and villages. The company has started an internship programme to nurture talent and overcome the skill gap.

For the first three months, the trainees undergo a skill development course, where they can choose what they want to specialise in, with coding in C, C++, and Python being mandatory skills across disciplines. After three months of skill development, the trainees work on a variety of projects for six months and are evaluated based on their problem-solving abilities and initiatives. Those who successfully complete the second stage join Zoho's workforce. Throughout the nine months of training, the interns receive a stipend. So far, 40 employees have been hired through this programme.