Zoho Corp acquires Asimov Robotics, expands R&D footprint with new Kerala campus
Asimov Robotics develops robotic solutions for industries to handle hazardous and repetitive tasks.
Zoho Corporation, the parent company of Zoho and ManageEngine, has acquired Kochi-based deeptech startup Asimov Robotics.
Founded in 2012, Asimov Robotics develops robotic solutions for industries to handle hazardous and repetitive tasks.
Following the acquisition, Asimov Robotics and its employees will continue their R&D work from Zoho’s campus in Kottarakkara, Kerala, with guidance and mentorship from Zoho’s in-house team, Zoho Corporation said in a statement.
The move is aimed at strengthening the firm’s R&D capabilities in the field of robotics and expanding its expertise in emerging technologies.
"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," said K N Balagopal, Minister of Finance, Government of Kerala.
He added, "This is a consorted effort between multiple agencies which included, employers, skilling, academia, infrastructure, capital and public participation and could be adopted as a model for the rest of the state."
Meanwhile, the SaaS firm has inaugurated its new campus in Kottarakkara. It has also partnered with the Kerala Startup Mission to support its Deep Tech Product Studio initiative and formed associations with emerging startups and organisations for R&D collaborations.
The announcements were made during the official opening of the Kottarakkara campus, which was inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, and Finance Minister, K N Balagopal. The ceremony was attended by Zoho Corp Co-founder and CEO, Shailesh Davey; Zoho US Co-founder and CEO, Tony Thomas; and Zoho Corp Co-founder and Chief Scientist, Sridhar Vembu.
Other dignitaries present included Kodikunnil Suresh, Member of Parliament; Anoop Ambika, CEO of Kerala Startup Mission; and Dr S Somanath, former Chairman of ISRO.
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"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 also will be collaborating with like-minded deeptech organisations to further amplify our efforts," said Davey.
“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,” he added.
The Kottarakkara campus, which can accommodate 250 employees, will initially focus on advancing Zoho’s research in artificial intelligence and robotics.
The company, which opened its first office in the town in 2024, said it has been actively hiring local talent from Kottarakkara and surrounding towns and villages as part of its decentralisation strategy.
Zoho has also launched a structured internship programme at the campus. Trainees undergo a three-month skill development phase, where they are introduced to core programming languages such as C, C++, and Python.
Following this, interns spend six months working on several projects and are assessed based on their problem-solving abilities and initiative. Those who complete the nine-month programme are offered full-time roles at Zoho, with a stipend provided throughout the training period. To date, the programme has led to the hiring of 40 employees.
Edited by Swetha Kannan