HKUST Tops Hong Kong Universities with More Than 1,000 HKPFS Recipients

Advancing the City's Development as an International Hub for High-Caliber Talent

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 3 September 2026 - As a global magnet for top-tier talent, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has established a stellar track record under the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS). Since the Research Grants Council (RGC) initiated the scheme 17 years ago in 2009, HKUST has welcomed over 1,000 fellowship recipients. Coming from over 50 countries and regions, these elite students account for more than a quarter of all HKPFS fellowship recipients to date, reinforcing HKUST's position as the leading destination for HKPFS awardees among Hong Kong's University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities.

In the 2026/27 academic year, which started this September, HKUST has welcomed over 100 new HKPFS recipients. Over the next three years, these doctoral students will receive a combined total of more than HK$112 million in fellowships and research allowances from the HKSAR Government. This achievement underscores HKUST's world-class research capabilities and commitment to nurturing talent, while affirming its pivotal role in attracting international research talent, supporting Hong Kong's development into a global hub for high-caliber talent, and advancing the city as an international center for post-secondary education, innovation and technology.

Since the first intake of doctoral students in the 2010/11 academic year, HKUST has enrolled more than 1,000 Fellowship recipients over the past 17 years, accounting for over a quarter of the Scheme's cumulative total. Notably, the University secured the highest number of HKPFS awardees among Hong Kong's universities for 14 of those academic years. Following the HKSAR Government's announcement in the 2025-26 Budget to increase the annual scheme quota to 400, HKUST has welcomed more than 100 recipients in both the 2025/26 and 2026/27 academic years. Each recipient is granted three years of financial support provided by RGC, which includes an annual stipend and research-related allowance worth around HK$358,800 per year.

Deeply encouraged by these achievements, Prof. Nancy IP, President of HKUST,stated: "For 35 years, HKUST has been driven by a commitment not only to advance knowledge, but to generate knowledge that creates meaningful impact. We believe transformative discoveries begin with curiosity, courage, and a willingness to explore the unknown. By fostering a vibrant environment for research, learning, and innovation, we empower our faculty and students to push boundaries and turn ideas into solutions that benefit society.

Over the past 17 years, more than a thousand outstanding students from around the world have chosen HKUST for their postgraduate research journey, enriching our community with diverse perspectives and reflecting the global recognition of our research excellence. Looking ahead, we will continue to attract talent from across the globe, strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, and support young scholars to tackle the world's most pressing challenges through research and innovation for the benefit of Hong Kong, our nation, and the world."

Beyond the support provided under the HKPFS, HKUST offers a comprehensive package to its HKPFS recipients, including a full tuition waiver for four years, research and academic development funding, and guaranteed first-year accommodation, enabling students to fully dedicate themselves to research and expand their international academic networks.

The University also provides a range of scholarships and support schemes for other full-time research postgraduate students, including the Postgraduate Studentship, which provides annual support of over HK$220,000, and the Global Research Award, which supports students in undertaking overseas research and academic exchange activities. In addition, the University has established the "HKUST RedBird PhD Award". Awardees receive a HK$40,000 recruitment award in their first year, followed by an annual HK$20,000 Academic Excellence Award in subsequent years, subject to satisfactory academic performance. These additional resources provide greater support for their academic development and research pursuits, allowing them to devote themselves fully to achieving research excellence.

The research domains of the HKPFS recipients admitted to HKUST span frontier areas, including artificial intelligence and future computing and electronics, biomedical sciences and translational medicine, materials science and future energy, innovation for business management and fintech, as well as sustainability and green technology. Throughout their PhD journey, they will engage in cutting-edge research while strengthening their research capabilities and teaching skills through scholarly publications, teaching assignments, and international academic exchanges. This rigorous training builds a solid foundation for their future careers in academia, research institutions, the innovation and technology industry, or entrepreneurial ventures.

Prof. Bert SHI, Dean of HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School said, "HKUST's diverse pool of HKPFS recipients comes from more than 50 countries and regions, bringing talent from around the world together with home-grown undergraduate and master's graduates, some of whom discovered their passion for research early on through HKUST's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, while others chose to pursue advanced studies here after being inspired by cutting-edge research projects led by HKUST faculty. Together, these young doctoral students from diverse cultural and academic backgrounds unite with seasoned faculty members to form a vibrant, international, and dynamic scholarly community.

Upon graduation, HKUST doctoral graduates enjoy exceptional career prospects. Many join world-renowned universities and research institutes, dedicated to nurturing the next generation and chasing scientific breakthroughs. Others embark on entrepreneurial paths, transforming their research achievements into innovative solutions that benefit society. Several of these startups have secured robust backing from the government, investors, and industry partners, flourishing across various sectors to unlock long-term value for society."

Established by the RGC in 2009, the HKPFS aims to attract outstanding students from around the world who possess exceptional academic achievements and strong research potential to pursue research postgraduate studies at UGC-funded universities in Hong Kong. Recipients are selected through a highly competitive process based on academic performance, research capability and potential, communication skills, and leadership abilities. For the 2026/27 academic year, the scheme offers 400 fellowships.

Hashtag: #HKUST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

** This press release is distributed by Media OutReach Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **

New Cantonese and Mandarin capable campus extends TDCX's Hong Kong operations into the Greater Bay Area, pairing local talent with TDCX's proprietary AI solutions for faster launches and future-ready CX and growth.

TDCX celebrates the grand opening of its Foshan campus, its sixth center in China. From left to right: Angie Tay (EVP and Group COO), guest of honour Mr. Guo Yaoyu (Deputy Director, Management Office, Nanhai District, Foshan ), Laurent Junique (Founder and CEO), Chin Tze Neng (CFO), Michael Cowell (Managing Director, Hong Kong) and Tony Chen (Country Director, China).

Foshan was selected for its deep, scalable pool of Cantonese and Mandarin capable talent and its position within the evolving Greater Bay Area technology and AI ecosystem. For Hong Kong businesses, the city offers a natural complement to their existing operations rather than a replacement. For mainland Chinese businesses, it offers access to TDCX's AI-enabled delivery model and the depth of talent needed to run complex, high-quality operations at scale.

The move comes as TDCX continues to expand its footprint across Greater China, giving clients on both sides of the border faster access to talent, agile launch capabilities, and TDCX's proprietary AI solutions, which support the next generation of customer experience and B2B growth.

Hong Kong Managing Director, Michael Cowell said: "Foshan gives Hong Kong businesses an execution engine right next door, and gives mainland Chinese businesses access to the same AI-enabled delivery model that sets TDCX apart globally. Clients no longer have to choose between deep local market knowledge and the scale, speed, and cost efficiency of the Greater Bay Area and with Foshan, they get both, backed by proprietary AI tools built specifically for customer experience and growth operations. This campus reflects our commitment to helping businesses across Hong Kong and China scale smarter without leaving the ecosystem they know."

A campus built for agility, speed, and AI-enabled advantage

The new Foshan campus is designed to support small-pod pilots that launch in as little as 60 to 90 days, allowing clients to test chat, email, voice, social, or back-office support quickly before scaling. Typical pilot pods range from 3 to 10 full-time employees, giving businesses a low-risk, fast-entry path into the market.

Every pod at TDCX Foshan is underpinned by TDCX's proprietary AI solutions, including QA modernization tools, coaching insights, agent-assist workflows, and voice-of-customer analytics, giving Hong Kong and mainland clients a level of operational intelligence and consistency that differentiates TDCX from traditional BPO providers. TDCX Foshan offers a suite of easy-entry packages designed for Hong Kong businesses and mainland Chinese enterprises alike, including the Foshan Launch Pod for rapid market testing, the Cantonese CX Pod for Cantonese first voice, chat, email, and social support with optional Mandarin and English coverage, the Growth Pod for B2B outbound prospecting, lead qualification, and appointment setting, and an AI-Enabled CX Upgrade for existing teams.

The campus is well positioned to serve clients across e-commerce and retail, travel and hospitality, tech and digital platforms, and financial services, sectors that are increasingly turning to the Greater Bay Area, and to TDCX's AI-enabled approach, for scalable, future-ready CX and growth operations.

Built for growth, designed to feel like home

TDCX Foshan opens with approximately 100 positions and is expected to grow rapidly over the next two years, reflecting the pace at which Hong Kong and mainland clients are expected to adopt the campus's pod-based model and scale their teams over time.

The campus itself has been designed as a modern, future-ready workplace, combining thoughtful architecture with functional, purpose-built spaces for collaboration, training, and wellbeing. From onboarding through day-to-day operations, the facility is designed to give every employee a place they can call home, reflecting TDCX's broader commitment to building workplaces where talent can grow alongside the business.

China Country Director, Tony Chen, said: "What sets Foshan apart is the combination of talent, agility, and technology. We can stand up a Cantonese or Mandarin speaking pod in as little as 60 to 90 days, and from day one, that team is supported by TDCX's proprietary AI solutions, the same tools we use to drive quality and consistency for clients around the world. That combination gives Hong Kong and mainland clients the confidence to test and scale quickly, knowing they have both the right people and the right technology behind them. We've also designed this campus from the ground up to feel like a home for our people, not just a workplace, because that sense of belonging is what will carry us as we grow from where we are today to the much larger team we're building toward. Being just a short commute from Guangzhou or 90 minutes from Central Hong Kong means our clients never feel far from their teams, even as they benefit from the depth and cost efficiency of the Greater Bay Area."

Guo Yaoyu, Deputy Director, Management Office, Nanhai District, Foshan, said: "In the outsourcing services industry, Nanhai District, Foshan is home to more than 200 enterprises, including over 30 industry leaders. TDCX joining their ranks will lift the entire sector to a higher level. Nanhai offers rich resources and a very large market to support TDCX's next stage of growth, particularly as the district focuses on AI. As of June this year, Nanhai is home to more than 3,400 technology enterprises, over 40 percent of Foshan's total, creating significant market opportunity for clients in Hong Kong, overseas, and across the mainland. The Nanhai District Government looks forward to working even more closely with TDCX to expand these services both at home and abroad."

With the opening of Foshan, TDCX now operates six centers across China, reinforcing the country's role as a core pillar of the company's regional growth strategy and its ability to deliver comprehensive, AI-enabled customer experience and sales solutions for clients across Hong Kong and mainland China.

Hashtag: #TDCX #CX #Outsourcing #EnableTheFuture

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About TDCX

With a focus on helping companies enable the future, TDCX's smart, scalable approach, driven by innovation and operational precision, positions it as a key partner for companies targeting tangible outcomes. With more than 20,000 employees across 37 locations worldwide, TDCX provides clients with comprehensive coverage in Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

For more information, please visit www.tdcx.com.

** This press release is distributed by Media OutReach Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **