Zoho’s Vembu: India must learn from China’s tech ownership model

At TechSparks 2026, Zoho co-founder Sridhar Vembu argued that India’s technology ecosystem should look to China, not other advanced markets, for lessons in building lasting economic prosperity. The key difference, he said, is ownership: China’s focus on controlling its own tech stack, rather than relying on foreign infrastructure or talent.

Vembu’s stance sharpens a debate he’s pushed for years. Earlier this month, he urged India to skip high-cost hardware races and invest in foundational technologies instead, framing automation as an opportunity for self-reliance rather than a threat to jobs. His comments align with a broader skepticism of dependence on foreign tech, though they also risk isolating Indian startups from global capital and tooling.

China’s model—government-backed champions, domestic alternatives to foreign platforms, and a willingness to subsidize critical technologies—has produced a self-sustaining ecosystem. But it’s also drawn scrutiny over trade-offs between control and openness. Whether India can replicate that balance without sacrificing flexibility remains an open question.

For now, Vembu’s advocacy puts Zoho at odds with peers that have doubled down on partnerships with global cloud providers. The tension reflects a larger uncertainty: Can India build a tech ecosystem that’s both globally competitive and domestically controlled? The answer may hinge on whether startups follow Vembu’s lead or bet on integration instead.

Sources: yourstory.com