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AudioCodes Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results and Declares Semi-Annual Dividend of 20 cents per share

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OR YEHUDA, Israel, Aug. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 

Second Quarter Highlights

Quarterly revenues increased by 3.1% year-over-year to $63 million;Quarterly services revenues increased by 6.2% year-over-year to $34.6 million;GAAP results:
– Quarterly GAAP gross margin was 65.7%;
– Quarterly GAAP operating margin was 5.1%;
– Quarterly GAAP net income was $0.5 million, or $0.02 per diluted share.Non-GAAP results:
– Quarterly Non-GAAP gross margin was 65.8%;
– Quarterly Non-GAAP operating margin was 7.4%;
– Quarterly Non-GAAP net income was $3.9 million, or $0.15 per diluted share;Net cash provided by operating activities was $6.1 million for the quarter.AudioCodes repurchased 950,133 of its ordinary shares during the quarter at an aggregate cost of $8.9 million.

Details

AudioCodes (NASDAQ: AUDC) (the “Company”), a global leader in enterprise voice and VoiceAI business solutions, today announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026.

Revenues for the second quarter of 2026 were $63 million compared to $61.1 million for the second quarter of 2025.

Net income was $0.5 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2026 compared to net income of $0.3 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2025.

On a Non-GAAP basis, net income was $3.9 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2026 compared to $4.1 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2025.

Non-GAAP net income excludes: (i) share-based compensation expenses; (ii) amortization expenses related to intangible assets; and (iii) financial income (expenses) related to exchange rate differences in connection with revaluation of assets and liabilities in non-dollar denominated currencies. Non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating income and non-GAAP operating margin exclude: (i) share-based compensation expenses and (ii) amortization expenses related to intangible assets. Reconciliations of the non-GAAP measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures are provided in the tables that accompany the condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this press release.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $6.1 million for the second quarter of 2026. Cash and cash equivalents, short-term bank deposits, short-term marketable securities, and long-term financial investments were $64.2 million as of June 30, 2026, compared to $75.7 million as of December 31, 2025. The decrease in cash and cash equivalents, short-term bank deposits, short-term marketable securities, and long-term financial investments was the result of the use of cash for the continued repurchase of the Company’s ordinary shares pursuant to its share repurchase program and the payment of a cash dividend during the first quarter. This was partially offset by cash generated from operating activities and proceeds from the maturity of marketable securities.

“I am pleased to announce strong financial results for the second quarter of 2026, reflecting well on the execution of our strategic initiative to transform AudioCodes into a voice AI-driven cloud software and services company,” stated Shabtai Adlersberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of AudioCodes.

Second-quarter results were propelled again by sustained momentum across our two principal growth pillars: the Live suite of managed services for UCaaS and CX, alongside our Conversational AI business. Collectively, these segments advanced Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) to $84 million, marking an increase of 20% compared to the year ago period. Notably, our Microsoft Teams business maintained its strong momentum, growing 5% year over year.

Consistent with the first quarter of this year, our Conversational AI business grew by more than 50% year over year in the second quarter, reflecting strong and broad-based demand across our Voice AI portfolio. The growing adoption of voice as the most natural and preferred medium for business communication and collaboration is becoming the experience of many and strengthens our confidence in the long-term growth potential of the business. During the quarter, Voice AI Connect and Live Hub delivered record bookings, driven by an accelerating pipeline, consistent new logo acquisition, and significant expansion within our existing customer base. These solutions support both virtual agent and agent-assist capabilities across the growing contact center market, in both cloud and on-premises deployments. Voca CIC, our Microsoft Teams-certified contact center solution has also generated good business progress. In addition, Meeting Insights, our enterprise-grade meeting intelligence solution for cloud and on-premises environments, continues to gain traction as customer interest grows and the opportunity pipeline steadily expands. 

“Overall, we achieved our operational and financial targets through maintaining budgetary and managerial discipline. The ongoing investments in Live services and Voice AI have significantly contributed to our current success and position us favorably for continued healthy top-line growth throughout the remainder of 2026,” concluded Mr. Adlersberg. 

Share Buy Back Program

In May 2026, the Company received court approval in Israel to purchase up to an aggregate amount of $25 million of ordinary shares. The court approval also permits AudioCodes to declare a dividend out of any part of this amount. The approval is valid through November 12, 2026.

During the quarter ended June 30, 2026, the Company acquired 950,133 of its ordinary shares under its share repurchase program for a total consideration of $8.9 million.

As of June 30, 2026, the Company had $17.4 million available under this approval for the repurchase of shares and/or declaration of cash dividends.

As of June 30, 2026, the total outstanding shares of the Company are 24,590,849.

Cash Dividend

AudioCodes also announced today that the Company’s Board of Directors has declared a semi-annual cash dividend in the amount of 20 cents per share. The aggregate amount of the dividend is approximately $4.8 million. The dividend is payable on September 3, 2026, to all of the Company’s shareholders of record at the close of trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on August 19, 2026.

In accordance with Israeli tax law, the dividend is subject to withholding tax at source at the rate of 25% of the dividend amount payable to each shareholder of record, subject to applicable exemptions. If the recipient of the dividend is at the time of distribution or was at any time during the preceding 12-month period the holder of 10% or more of the Company’s share capital, the withholding rate is 30%.

The dividend will be paid in U.S. dollars on the ordinary shares of AudioCodes Ltd. that are traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange. The amount and timing of any other dividends will be determined by the Company’s Board of Directors.

Conference Call & Web Cast Information

AudioCodes will conduct a conference call at 8:30 A.M., Eastern Time today to discuss the Company’s second quarter of 2026 operating performance, financial results and outlook. Interested parties may participate in the conference call by dialing one of the following numbers:

United States Participants: 888-506-0062

International Participants: +1 (973) 528-0011

The conference call will also be simultaneously webcast. Investors are invited to listen to the call live via webcast at the AudioCodes investor website at http://www.audiocodes.com/investors-lobby.

Follow AudioCodes’ social media channels:

AudioCodes invites you to join our online community and follow us on: AudioCodes Voice Blog, LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and YouTube.

About AudioCodes

AudioCodes Ltd. (NASDAQ, TASE: AUDC) is a global leader in enterprise voice and VoiceAI business solutions. We help organizations unlock the full value of voice, transforming every conversation, whether human or AI, into a strategic asset that drives better business outcomes. Our portfolio spans voice connectivity, unified communications and contact center integration, and next-generation voice AI applications that enhance collaboration, automate workflows and deliver real-time insights. With over 30 years of global experience and trusted by 65 of the Fortune 100, AudioCodes powers the intelligent enterprise, connecting people, platforms and data to move business forward.

For more information on AudioCodes, visit http://www.audiocodes.com.

Statements concerning AudioCodes’ business outlook or future economic performance, product introductions and plans and objectives related thereto, and statements concerning assumptions made or expectations as to any future events, conditions, performance or other matters, are “forward-looking statements” as the term is defined under U.S. federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated in such statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to, the following: the effect of global economic conditions in general and conditions in AudioCodes’ industry and target markets in particular, including governmental undertakings to address such conditions; shifts in supply and demand; market acceptance of new products and the demand for existing products; the impact of competitive products and pricing on AudioCodes’ and its customers’ products and markets; timely product and technology development, upgrades, the advent of artificial intelligence, and the ability to manage changes in market conditions and evolving regulatory regimes, as applicable; possible need for additional financing; the ability to satisfy covenants in AudioCodes’ financing agreements; possible impacts and disruptions from AudioCodes’ acquisitions, including the ability of AudioCodes to successfully integrate the products and operations of acquired companies into AudioCodes’ business; possible adverse impacts attributable to any pandemic or other public health crisis on our business and results of operations; the effects of the current and any future hostilities involving Israel, including in the regions in which we or our counterparties operate, which may affect our operations and may limit our ability to produce and sell our solutions; any disruption in our operations by the obligations of our personnel to perform military service as a result of current or future military actions involving Israel; and any other factors described in AudioCodes’ filings made with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. AudioCodes assumes no obligation to update the information in this release.

©2026 AudioCodes Ltd. All rights reserved. AudioCodes, AC, HD VoIP, HD VoIP Sounds Better, IPmedia, Mediant, MediaPack, What’s Inside Matters, OSN, SmartTAP, User Management Pack, VMAS, VoIPerfect, VoIPerfectHD, Your Gateway To VoIP, 3GX, AudioCodes One Voice, AudioCodes Meeting Insights, and AudioCodes Room Experience are trademarks or registered trademarks of AudioCodes Limited. All other products or trademarks are property of their respective owners. Product specifications are subject to change without notice.

 

 

AUDIOCODES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

U.S. dollars in thousands      

June 30,

December 31,

2026

2025

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS:

Cash and cash equivalents

$ 51,414

$ 45,282

Short-term bank deposits

255

239

Short-term marketable securities

10,001

27,350

Trade receivables, net

62,877

67,358

Other receivables and prepaid expenses

18,581

19,064

Inventories

23,764

22,032

Total current assets

166,892

181,325

LONG-TERM ASSETS:

Long-term Trade receivables

$ 10,785

$ 13,065

Long-term financial investments

2,492

2,790

Deferred tax assets

7,026

7,773

Operating lease right-of-use assets

31,573

30,077

Severance pay funds

23,057

21,163

Total long-term assets

74,933

74,868

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

29,636

29,248

GOODWILL, INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND OTHER, NET

37,560

37,579

Total assets

$ 309,021

$ 323,020

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

Trade payables

9,439

6,416

Other payables and accrued expenses

29,640

30,284

Deferred revenues

41,466

38,243

Short-term operating lease liabilities

7,430

6,635

Total current liabilities

87,975

81,578

LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:

Accrued severance pay

$ 19,097

$ 18,278

Deferred revenues and other liabilities

22,230

20,517

Long-term operating lease liabilities

33,938

31,348

Total long-term liabilities

75,265

70,143

Total shareholders’ equity

145,781

171,299

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$ 309,021

$ 323,020

 

 

 

AUDIOCODES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

U.S. dollars in thousands, except per share data

 Six months ended

Three months ended

 June 30,

June 30,

2026

2025

2026

2025

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

Revenues:

Products

$ 56,508

$ 56,290

$ 28,378

$ 28,515

Services

68,593

65,162

34,580

32,563

Total Revenues

125,101

121,452

62,958

61,078

Cost of revenues:

Products

20,160

21,936

10,249

10,919

Services

22,455

21,258

11,348

11,035

Total Cost of revenues

42,615

43,194

21,597

21,954

Gross profit

82,486

78,258

41,361

39,124

Operating expenses:

Research and development, net

27,354

25,899

13,296

12,873

Selling and marketing

40,664

38,376

20,984

19,815

General and administrative

7,906

7,738

3,883

3,836

Total operating expenses

75,924

72,013

38,163

36,524

Operating income

6,562

6,245

3,198

2,600

Financial income (expenses), net

(2,141)

522

(1,759)

(1,194)

Income before taxes on income

4,421

6,767

1,439

1,406

Taxes on income, net

(1,991)

(2,445)

(962)

(1,100)

Net income

$ 2,430

$ 4,322

$ 477

$ 306

Basic net earnings per share

$ 0.09

$ 0.15

$ 0.02

$ 0.01

Diluted net earnings per share

$ 0.09

$ 0.15

$ 0.02

$ 0.01

Weighted average number of shares used in computing
 basic net earnings per share (in thousands)

25,826

29,202

25,185

28,877

Weighted average number of shares used in computing
 diluted net earnings per share (in thousands)

26,322

29,699

25,753

29,353

 

 

AUDIOCODES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP RESULTS

U.S. dollars in thousands, except per share data

Six months ended

Three months ended

June 30,

June 30,

2026

2025

2026

2025

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

Gross profit

$ 82,486

$ 78,258

$ 41,361

$ 39,124

Gross margin

65.9 %

64.4 %

65.7 %

64.1 %

Share-based compensation (1)

153

225

75

130

Amortization expenses (2)

244

122

Non-GAAP gross profit

82,639

78,727

41,436

39,376

Non-GAAP gross margin

66.1 %

64.8 %

65.8 %

64.5 %

Operating income

$ 6,562

$ 6,245

$ 3,198

$ 2,600

Operating margin

5.2 %

5.1 %

5.1 %

4.3 %

Share-based compensation (1)

2,811

3,276

1,422

1,688

Amortization expenses (2)

19

266

8

133

Non-GAAP operating income

9,392

9,787

4,628

4,421

Non-GAAP operating margin

7.5 %

8.1 %

7.4 %

7.2 %

Net income

$ 2,430

$ 4,322

$ 477

$ 306

Net earnings per share

$ 0.09

$ 0.14

$ 0.02

$ 0.01

Share-based compensation (1)

2,811

3,276

1,422

1,688

Amortization expenses (2)

19

266

8

133

Exchange rate differences (3)

2,388

918

1,980

1,953

Non-GAAP net income

$ 7,648

$ 8,782

$ 3,887

$ 4,080

Non-GAAP diluted net earnings per share

$ 0.28

$ 0.29

$ 0.15

$ 0.14

Weighted average number of shares used in computing
 Non-GAAP diluted net earnings per share (in thousands)

27,075

30,422

26,430

30,120

(1)  Share-based compensation expenses related to options and restricted share units granted to employees and others.

(2)  Amortization expenses related to intangible assets.

(3)  Financial income (expenses) related to exchange rate differences in connection with revaluation of assets and liabilities in non-dollar denominated currencies.

Note:  Non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, the results prepared in accordance with GAAP.  The Company believes that non-GAAP information is useful because it can enhance the understanding of its ongoing economic performance and therefore uses internally this non-GAAP information to evaluate and manage its operations. The Company has chosen to provide this information to investors to enable them to perform comparisons of operating results in a manner similar to how the Company analyzes its operating results and because many comparable companies report this type of information.

The non-GAAP measures used by the Company may not be comparable to similarly titled non-GAAP measures used by other companies.

 

 

AUDIOCODES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

U.S. dollars in thousands

Six months ended

Three months ended

June 30,

June 30,

2026

2025

2026

2025

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income

$ 2,430

$ 4,322

$ 477

$ 306

Adjustments required to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

2,212

1,913

1,131

959

Amortization of marketable securities premiums and accretion of discounts, net

122

197

44

93

Decrease (increase) in accrued severance pay, net

(1,075)

76

(823)

(57)

Share-based compensation expenses

2,811

3,276

1,422

1,688

Decrease in deferred tax assets, net

690

307

165

(312)

Cash financial loss (income), net

407

22

168

(31)

Decrease in operating lease right-of-use assets

2,263

2,199

1,057

1,453

Decrease (increase) in operating lease liabilities

(374)

422

786

1,965

Decrease (increase) in trade receivables, net

6,761

(3,136)

(2,905)

(3,922)

Decrease (increase) in other receivables and prepaid expenses

483

(4,444)

850

(6,827)

Decrease (increase) in inventories

(1,866)

4,976

(911)

2,121

Increase in trade payables

2,883

87

1,269

1,376

Decrease in other payables and accrued expenses

(4,150)

6,750

2,009

9,345

Increase in deferred revenues

5,320

4,215

1,357

(432)

Net cash provided by operating activities

18,917

21,182

6,096

7,725

Cash flows from investing activities:

Proceeds from short-term deposits

(16)

(18)

(13)

(19)

Proceeds from financial investment

122

178

88

65

Proceeds from maturity of marketable securities

17,377

3,200

14,377

Purchase of financial investments

(135)

(442)

(135)

Purchase of property and equipment

(2,296)

(3,259)

(1,051)

(1,785)

 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

15,052

(341)

13,266

(1,739)

 

 

AUDIOCODES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

U.S. dollars in thousands

Six months ended

Three months ended

June 30,

June 30,

2026

2025

2026

2025

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Purchase of treasury shares

(22,548)

(11,818)

(8,876)

(6,610)

Cash dividends paid to shareholders

(5,289)

(5,326)

Proceeds from issuance of shares upon exercise of options

173

110

Net cash used in financing activities

(27,837)

(16,971)

(8,876)

(6,500)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

6,132

3,870

10,486

(514)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

45,282

58,749

40,928

63,133

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$ 51,414

$ 62,619

$ 51,414

$ 62,619

 

 

Company Contacts

Niran Baruch,

Chief Financial Officer 

AudioCodes

Tel: +972-3-976-4000

niran.baruch@audiocodes.com

Roger L. Chuchen

VP, Investor Relations

AudioCodes

Tel:  +1-732-764-2552

roger.chuchen@audiocodes.com

 

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SOURCE AudioCodes

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Poll finds surging demand for AI-based video encoding

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HANGZHOU, China, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Hikvision has developed Guanlan Encoding, a technology that uses AI to identify more and less information-rich areas in video images and encodes every frame accordingly.

To gauge the potential impact of the new technology, asmag.com and Hikvision have teamed up for a survey of asmag readers, entitled “AI encoding technology for video security,” and asked them about their experience with the “storage challenge” and where they see potential in their projects for AI-based encoding.

Storage pressure is real and growing

When asked “How significant a challenge is video storage cost or capacity in your business or projects?” a large number of respondents—38.2%—identified storage pressure as a “major challenge.” It was the second-most given answer among all respondents, trailing closely behind 43.2% who said storage is a “moderate” challenge. When asked “Has the storage challenge changed compared to 12 months ago?” the largest share of respondents—once again 43.2%—said it has “increased moderately.” 

Guanlan Encoding—Hikvision’s solution to a growing pain point

Guanlan Encoding is built on the H.265 standard and integrates Hikvision’s Guanlan Large-Scale AI Model into continuous encoding workflows. Rather than compressing every part of a frame equally—the approach traditional codecs take—Guanlan Encoding identifies which parts of a scene matter most, such as people, vehicles and other moving objects, and allocates more detail to them. Static or low-motion background footage, by contrast, is compressed far more aggressively.

According to Hikvision, this combination of different compression rates in the same frame helps reduce storage needs by 30% to 50% on average without sacrificing details that matter for investigations and monitoring.

Guanlan is already gaining ground

Even though it was introduced so recently, over half of survey respondents expressed familiarity with Guanlan Encoding: 43.3% said they are “familiar with it” despite not yet having hands-on experience, while 8.3% said they are already using the technology.

Overall, the survey showed the severity of the storage challenge, but also that Hikvision is well positioned to offer a significant fix to the pain point. Guanlan Encoding plays a key role as it uses AI not to produce more data, but to reduce the burden of more data on storage infrastructure.

Find more reporting about the “AI encoding technology for video security” on the dedicated landing page on asmag.com, or download the full results of the survey.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/poll-finds-surging-demand-for-ai-based-video-encoding-302885423.html

SOURCE Hikvision Digital Technology

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Noah Holdings Hosts 2026 Global Investor Summit “The Year of Realization: A New Chapter in Global Allocation”

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Serving Global Chinese Families With a Global Investment Network, Licensed Teams and AI Capabilities

HONG KONG, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Noah Holdings Limited (“Noah” or the “Company”) (NYSE: NOAH; HKEX: 6686), a wealth management institution serving global Chinese families, together with its global asset allocation platform Olive Asset Management (“Olive”), successfully held its 2026 Global Investor Summit, themed “The Year of Realization: A New Chapter in Global Allocation,” in Hong Kong. Addressing the industry transformation driven by AI and the long-term wealth needs of global Chinese families, Noah discussed how it is combining the global investment network and professional expertise it has developed over the years with AI capabilities to build a wealth management system that clients can use and rely on over the long term.

Investment professionals from Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP, a part of BlackRock), Macquarie Asset Management, Bridgepoint, HarbourVest Partners and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management attended the summit and participated in discussions. Noah’s global network of investment managers is an important foundation of its investment capabilities. Through its ongoing investments in funds globally, Noah and Olive continue to build relationships with managers and accumulate underlying research data, drawing on these resources to understand industry shifts, validate investment judgments and support clients’ long-term asset allocation.

Understanding the Responsibility of Wealth Management, Starting From Clients’ Long-Term Interests

Noah Holdings believes that the productivity shift brought by AI is changing how wealth is created and is placing new demands on families’ long-term planning. Wealth management needs to understand the long-term forces behind changes in technology, capital and family needs, while also factoring in family governance and succession. The responsibility of professional institutions is to help clients understand these changes and make judgments based on their own needs, building trust through long-term engagement.

Noah Holdings Chairwoman Norah Wang said: “Care is what expertise is for – that has always been Noah’s foundation. Our job is not to predict events, but to identify forces. Real care means using professional judgment to help clients see clearly which fluctuations they can bear, and which risks they must avoid.”

Noah Holdings CEO Zander Yin said at the summit that every technological revolution rewrites the world order and redraws the map of resources. The productivity shift now being driven by AI is no exception – it is likewise changing the path for corporate growth and investor participation.

Yin said: “The industrial revolutions of the past freed human hands; this AI revolution is further extending the human brain and human intelligence. Noah’s long-accumulated insight into GPs lets us keep observing how leading investment institutions make their choices. With AI, we are connecting this accumulated knowledge into clearer research threads – this ‘map’ is the trajectory of choices made by the world’s leading institutions. Following this map to identify companies worth deeper research is the approach we take.”

These judgments ultimately need to be embedded in a system clients can use. Noah’s three platforms operate in coordination: ARK Wealth Management handles account services and investment execution, covering the global banking system, trading channels, mutual funds and structured products; Olive Asset Management is responsible for long-term asset allocation, covering private equity, venture capital, real estate and global infrastructure; and Glory Family Heritage focuses on family protection and intergenerational planning, providing global family succession and lifestyle services. The three platforms work together within a unified framework to translate clients’ long-term needs into concrete investment, allocation and succession arrangements.

Noah Olive’s “Institutional Intelligence”: Making Judgment Evidence-Based and Experience Cumulative

Olive Asset Management Global CEO Peng Jing said at the summit that Olive is continuing to build its “institutional intelligence,” turning the research, decisions and experience accumulated through long-term investment practice into shared organizational methods and standards, so that professional judgment can accumulate over time, be tested, and improve through practice.

Observing the choices made by top-tier institutions is the starting point for research, not the conclusion. A global network of managers provides breadth of research, but institutional prestige and the number of investments alone cannot substitute for judgment. The team tracks how many genuinely independent sources of information support a given judgment, rather than simply counting how many firms have co-invested. At the execution level, Olive evaluates company quality and purchase price separately; at the research level, screening models need to be tested using only the information available at each historical point in time, with the methodology then refined based on actual outcomes. Project data, the basis for decisions, and the lessons drawn from both successes and mistakes are thereby retained within the organization over time. In this process, AI helps expand information coverage, detect anomalies and maintain ongoing tracking, while the professional team remains responsible for industry judgment, risk assessment and final decisions.

The summit also included a series of breakout sessions on topics such as cutting-edge technology in Silicon Valley, positioning in global private markets, opportunities in public markets, and family succession planning, with professionals from Noah and partner institutions taking part in the discussions.

Noah will continue to connect global investment resources, professional research and client service, working through its platforms to support the long-term investment and wealth succession needs of global Chinese families.

About Noah Holdings Limited

Noah Holdings Limited (NYSE: NOAH; HKEX: 6686) is a Singapore-headquartered wealth management institution focused on serving global Chinese high-net-worth families. Founded in 2005, Noah listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2010 and completed a dual primary listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2022. The Company’s business spans nine countries and regions, with account and trading centers in Singapore, Hong Kong, China, the United States, and Shanghai, China.

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When Music Reads Emotion: THEi Launches Centre for Music Therapy Research to Deepen Guangdong-Hong Kong Integration and Leverage AI to Fill the Healthcare Talent Gap

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HONG KONG, Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The fast pace of modern life and an aging population drive demand for mental health and non-pharmacological holistic wellness. In alignment with the health development priorities of the national 15th Five-Year Plan and the Healthy China Initiative, the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) held the launch ceremony for its Centre for Music Therapy Research (CMTR) at the Sky Concert Hall in Shenzhen on 16 September. The launch aims to address the demand for innovative healthcare talent while fostering Guangdong-Hong Kong integration.

The event gathered prominent leaders across government, business, higher education, and technology sectors, including Mr Paul CHONG Kin-lit, BBS, MH, Vice Chairman, THEi’s Board of Governors; Professor Alan LAU Kin-tak, President of THEi; Ms LIU Ying,

Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Digital Innovation and Technology, THEi and

Director of Centre for Music Therapy Research, THEi; Mr YANG Pengda, Education Entrepreneur and Deputy Director of Centre for Music Therapy Research, THEi;  Mr WAN Kun, Deputy Director-General, Development and Reform Bureau of Futian District, Shenzhen Municipality; Ms MA Hui, Director of Tchaikovsky Conservatory (China) International Exchange Centre; Dr CAI Yuejun, Key Laboratory of AI-Enabled Music Therapy, Shanghai Conservatory of Music; Dr PANG Yan, Associate Research Professor, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Doctoral Supervisor, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS).

The event featured strategic partnership signing ceremonies and a cross-industry networking reception, alongside an immersive “Emotional Healing Show” concert performed by celebrated musicians, including winners of ‘Golden Bell Awards’ and ‘Wenhua Award’, as well as former members of the renowned Twelve Girls Band. A key highlight was the live instrumental and choral performance of the iconic pop song Beneath the Lion Rock, which resonated with the Centre’s positioning of “Hong Kong’s International Connectivity”—marking a major milestone of advancing interdisciplinary mind-body wellness in the GBA.

Empowering Big Health with Applied Sciences: Nurturing “Work-Ready” Professionals in the GBA

Mr Paul CHONG Kin-lit, BBS, MH, Vice Chairman, THEi’s Board of Governors, delivered opening remarks, stating: “As an applied discipline bridging art, science, and medicine, music therapy plays a pivotal role in tackling mental stress, broader wellness demands, and specialised healthcare needs. Guided by our education philosophy of ‘applied science and immediate application,’ THEi drives industry-academia-research integration. By extending the reach of our Centre to Shenzhen, we leverage the GBA’s innovative ecosystem and expanding demand to pair global music therapy standards with cutting-edge technology—building a premier hub for scientific research, practical application, and community service.”

Professor Alan LAU Kin-tak, President of THEi, emphasised in his keynote that higher education must stay attuned to modern trends and national developments: “Music is undergoing a redefinition where sound, emotion, and AI intersect. As a pioneer in applied science and work-ready education, THEi sees growing demand in the GBA for expertise in non-pharmacological therapies, mental wellness, and the silver economy. By launching the Centre in Shenzhen, we fuse academic research with regional innovation. Through short-term and professional training programmes, we aim to fast-track market-ready, multidisciplinary talent equipped with technological, clinical, and commercial expertise to directly address key social needs.

Top Academic Talent Joins Forces

The newly launched Music Therapy Research Centre is directed by Ms LIU Ying, Visiting Associate Professor in the Department of Digital Innovation and Technology at THEi. A distinguished expert in Chinese traditional music, Ms LIU leads the Centre’s core content strategy, backed by international innovation expertise from Dr PANG Yan, Associate Research Professor, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Doctoral Supervisor, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) and his team.

As the champion of the Guzheng category at the 9th Chinese Music ‘Golden Bell Awards’, and the exclusive recipient of the gold, silver, and bronze awards in this category. Ms LIU noted that the Centre maximises synergy between Hong Kong and Shenzhen by pairing “Hong Kong’s global perspective with Shenzhen’s development speed” to construct a regional cross-disciplinary hub. Guided by the vision of “medical treatment in hospitals, healing in daily life,” the Centre uses Five-Tone theory and AI-based EEG technologies to deliver non-clinical wellness solutions. She stressed that with a clear focus on problem-solving over sheer size, the Centre will advance practical training programs, therapeutic products, and industry benchmarks through the integration of arts, science, and commercialisation.

Mr YANG Pengda, Education Entrepreneur and Deputy Director of Centre for Music Therapy Research, THEi, underscored his belief that “investing in education is a high-value commitment, not a cost,” – a vision driving his multi-year support for THEi’s research centres. Praising THEi’s work-ready degree’s programmes – which features a 100% internship placement and over 95% graduate employment, he noted that the Institute’s programmes are tailored to industry needs. He emphasised that the new Centre is grounded in societal demand, tackling issues like sleep disorders affecting 300 million individuals and elder care for 320 million seniors—effectively leveraging technology and humanity to improve the quality of lives.

The Centre signed strategic MoUs with Key Laboratory of AI-Enabled Music Therapy, Shanghai Conservatory of Music and Tchaikovsky Conservatory (China) International Exchange Centre The partnerships will foster deep collaboration across music arts research, professional talent training, and international exchange, laying a solid artistic foundation for the Centre’s ongoing development.

Moving ahead, the Centre will focus its efforts on four core strategic pillars: advancing AI-assisted music therapy research to improve personalised non-pharmacological treatments; exploring traditional Chinese music to unlock its therapeutic emotional benefits; delivering arts-based healing to support seniors and individuals with special needs; and integrating digital music with immersive technology to drive music therapy beyond traditional stages into a smart, holistic era of care.

Following the official launch of the Centre and its upcoming professional training programmes, THEi is set to reinforce its leadership in regional applied science education—accelerating sustainable innovation to support high-quality development across the GBA and nationwide.

About the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Music Technology

The programme places a strong emphasis on cross-cultural exchange, covering three major professional domains: game music design, contemporary music composition, and film scoring. By integrating artificial intelligence and augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) technologies into practical learning, the programme equips students with professional mastery in audio engineering and sound design, enhancing their ability to combine artistic creativity with technological innovation.

About Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) 

Founded in 2012, the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) is a member institute of the Vocational Training Council (VTC). THEi offers over 20 professional “Applied Science-Oriented” undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes across seven academic areas: Product and Fashion Designs, Sports and International Events Management, Digital Construction and Building Services, Horticulture, Arboriculture and Landscape Management, Chinese Medicine and Food Science, Hotel Management and Culinary Arts and Technology, and Digital Technology and Innovative Business. The programmes integrate theoretical knowledge with practical applications, and cover industries with growth potential in Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific region, ensuring that students can apply what they learn effectively.

THEi’s undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes are accredited by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications. The curriculum emphasises the practical application of applied science, aligning with the latest developments in business and industry. The undergraduate degree programmes offer 100% work-integrated learning training to support students in building their career paths at an earlier stage.

THEi Chai Wan Campus was awarded the “Leadership in Sustainable Design and Performance Award – Institutional” of the Asia Pacific Leadership in Green Building Awards presented by the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) in 2020.

Media Contact:

Ms Janice Lam 
Tel: (852) 3890 8227 / (852) 9718 0817
Email: janicelam@thei.edu.hk / media@thei.edu.hk

Ms  Rainbow Chiu 
Tel: (852) 3890 8520
Email: rainbowh@thei.edu.hk  / media@thei.edu.hk

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SOURCE Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi)

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