The CEO of Apple unexpectedly visited China and contributed RMB 30 million to Zhejiang University.
On Wednesday, Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, visited Zhejiang University to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Mobile Application Innovation program, which was established in partnership between the tech giant and the Chinese academic institution. During his visit, Cook announced an Apple donation of RMB 30 million ($4.13 million) to Zhejiang University to bolster programming education, with the goal of enhancing Apple’s collaboration with the university and nurturing future Chinese developers.
Why it matters: Zhejiang University, situated in Hangzhou, is among China's top academic institutions and is part of the C9 League, often compared to the Ivy League in the United States. By supporting emerging developers, Apple can enhance its App Store ecosystem and position itself favorably for innovation and engagement within China's tech sector, which is one of its key markets.
Details: According to Zhejiang Voice, a state-owned media outlet, Apple and Zhejiang University have collaborated for a decade on mobile application innovation. The donated funds will be allocated to create the Apple Mobile Application Incubation Fund, aimed at providing systematic technical training in app development, product design, marketing, and business operations. Additionally, it will link student developers with industry resources through workshops, internships, and mentorship opportunities.
“We believe coding is a powerful tool that empowers individuals to create, communicate, and solve problems in innovative ways. We're thrilled to enhance our decade-long partnership with Zhejiang University and to assist the next generation of developers in creating exceptional apps and launching businesses,” Cook stated.
Since 2016, Apple and Zhejiang University have jointly organized the Mobile Application Innovation Competition, which has involved more than 30,000 participants from nearly a thousand universities across China, as reported by state-owned Zhejiang News on Wednesday. This recent donation has brought the total funding during the partnership to RMB 80 million ($11.02 million).
Context: Due to regulatory issues, features of Apple Intelligence on the iPhone 16 series are currently not available in China. To introduce Apple Intelligence to Chinese iPhones, Apple is actively looking for partnerships with local AI companies, although no official partnership details have been made public as of now.
Jessie Wu is a tech reporter based in Shanghai, covering consumer electronics, semiconductors, and the gaming industry for TechNode. You can reach her via e-mail at [email protected].
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The CEO of Apple unexpectedly visited China and contributed RMB 30 million to Zhejiang University.
On Wednesday, Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, attended Zhejiang University to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Mobile Application Innovation program, which was established in collaboration between the American tech company and the Chinese university.