Tianhe District hosts 30 higher education institutions, 53 national and provincial-level research institutes, 122 key laboratories, 74 corporate tech centers, and more than 200 human resources agencies. Reputed universities and colleges located in Tianhe include the South China University of Technology, Jinan University and South China Normal University. Research institutes such as the Institute of Chemistry and the Institute of Energy of the Chinese Academy of Sciences are housed in Tianhe. Additionally, the district has 34 innovative companies municipal-level above and 95 engineering tech research centers of and above city level. 

More than 200 human resources agencies, approximately three quarters of the city's total, operate in Tianhe, including the South China Market of Human Resources, the largest human resources services agency in South China, and global firms such as Manpower Group and Korn Ferry. Guangzhou Tianhe Talent Port has been launched for operation. It offers comprehensive services for innovative start-ups as well as an enabling environment for professional development via "one-stop" services and a high-level talent "green channel". Overall, Tianhe district is dedicated to offering better human resources services as a "talent special district, innovative special district, and high-end special district" that is fully integrated in global competition.