In an exclusive interview, Zoho co-founder Sridhar Vembu stressed the urgency for India to cultivate robust technological capabilities. Vembu warned against relying heavily on imported high-value technologies while exporting low-value products, emphasizing that a country’s long-term resilience depends on its ability to innovate and add value domestically.
Drawing comparisons to oil-dependent economies, Vembu asserted that India must focus on creating and owning intellectual property (IP) to elevate its economic standing. He pointed out that possessing local IP will prevent India from being trapped in low-value addition cycles and low-income statuses.
Vembu further explained that government support is often unnecessary for technological advancement, citing Zoho’s success without such aid. He encouraged leveraging native languages to unlock a vast talent pool typically sidelined by the English-centric discourse, advocating for a more inclusive approach to innovation in India.
(With inputs from agencies.)
