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As global demand for AI-driven healthcare innovation surges—with the $1.7 billion AI in drug discovery market in 2024 expected to increase more than quadruple to $8.5 billion by 2030 (CAGR ~30%)—India is developing into the strategic center for this shift. Nowhere is this more evident than at ZS, where India is home to nearly 70% of the global workforce and their fastest adoption of pioneering AI in drug discovery, digital health, and capability centers.
India currently has more than 1,700 Global Capability Centres (GCCs)—with approximately 1.9 million professionals and generating more than $64 billion in exports—as GCCs are evolving from a delivery service focus to innovation engines.
In this timely Q&A, Mohit Sood, the Regional Managing Principal at ZS, shares how the firm is leveraging India's scale, talent, and innovation at the centre of a global advantage by developing high impact AI talent, embedding GenAI into drug development, and establishing ZS's India center at the forefront of global transformation.
How does ZS attract and retain top AI and data science talent amid rising competition in India?
ZS works in 35 countries. Nearly 70% of its global workforce is based in India, making it a fundamental delivery and innovation hub for the firm. ZS has a growth-oriented culture underpinned by flexible work models and inclusive employee-first policies.
All ZS’s AI practitioners work closely with both GenAI and agentic AI frameworks, including the tools ChatZS and AlterEgo, to push beyond project delivery into innovation. ZS’s open and collaborative work environment fosters creativity, ongoing learning, and sharing of knowledge among teams.
To develop the growing AI talent pool, ZS has an Advanced Data Science (ADS) transfer program that promotes a hackathon, live project internship, and multiple career lines in product development, consulting, and research. ZS also champions hackathon participation around the globe, such as in the NASA and FDA’s V-Champs hackathon competition, as well as recognitive internal innovations with initiatives such as Odyssey and the “Impact@AI” awards.
How is cost balanced with cutting-edge innovation in AI-driven drug discovery from India?
We embrace an innovative culture which is driven by “letting 1,000 flowers bloom” and enabling AI to power products, platforms and smarter decision making. In drug discovery, AI is enabling drug development through clinical trials with anonymized patient data, historical trial data to identify target molecules, identify appropriate patients, and facilitate more efficient and reduced protocol.
GenAI evaluates hundreds of molecules (some including combinations) and reduces to the best (most promising) molecules based on simulated real-world results thus increasing speed and efficacy in getting drug products into patients. In addition, GenAI facilitates efficiency for commercial management post-launch. GenAI enables more rapid and effective, or slightly less expensive, solutions for healthcare and can accelerate the development of healthcare solutions for large populations like India.
How are GCCs shifting from service delivery to innovation hubs?
Many GCCs struggle to move beyond service delivery to become true innovation hubs. While service delivery focuses on efficiency through standardized processes, innovation hubs solve complex problems using R&D, emerging tech, and cross-functional collaboration—adding strategic value.
ZS helps organizations build and scale innovation-led GCCs by developing business cases, transition plans, and success metrics. We enable this shift through GCC-as-a-service models, tech-driven transformation, and innovation labs. For mature GCCs, we offer Build-Operate-Transfer and Enable models, supported by AI platforms like ZAIDYN and Max.AI and skilled talent augmentation.
What unique, non-replicable advantages does India offer in healthcare innovation beyond talent and cost?
ZS leverages key strengths to enhance its global impact, notably its large, skilled talent pool in data science, tech, and analytics. This scale enables agile, end-to-end solution delivery. India adds a time zone advantage for seamless U.S. collaboration and brings globally aware professionals with diverse industry exposure.
What truly distinguishes ZS is the mindset of its India team—driven, innovative, and impact-focused. With deep healthcare expertise, especially in emerging markets, ZS combines analytics, technology, and industry insight to solve critical pharma challenges, with India playing a central role in driving innovation.
How does ZS ensure its AI and digital health solutions are scalable across diverse healthcare systems globally?
ZS designs AI and digital health solutions in India with a global mindset, ensuring they align with international standards and are ready for deployment across varied markets. Around 30% of our team is located in client regions like North America, Europe, and Japan, working closely with India-based experts to tailor solutions.
We take a dual approach to AI: leveraging both OpenAI and hyperscaler tech to build custom AI agents (e.g., for clinical trials or medical writing) and using our proprietary platforms—ZAIDYN for life sciences and Max.ai for cross-industry AI innovation. Tools like Atlas speed up market research by 40%, showcasing our AI’s practical impact.
What AI-related risks and challenges do Indian GCCs face, and how is ZS addressing them?
One of the biggest challenges ahead is managing fragmented, unstructured data. GCCs must refine this “raw data” to unlock AI’s full potential. ZS addresses this by integrating algorithmic, data, and business expertise to ensure effective AI outcomes. With rising machine-to-machine interactions, end-to-end automation will grow, and GCCs like ours are positioned to lead this shift by building robust, automated systems.
How does ZS contribute to innovation and entrepreneurship in India’s tech ecosystem?
ZS cultivates innovation through autonomy, collaboration, and its “1000 flowers blooming” philosophy. Knowledge sharing is central, fostering a culture where ideas grow collectively. Cross-region teamwork fuels diverse thinking, while our open, impact-driven environment nurtures talent and encourages entrepreneurial mindsets—contributing significantly to India’s evolving tech landscape.