Apple CEO Tim Cook Donates US$4.13 Million to Zhejiang University During Surprise China Visit
Apple CEO Tim Cook made an unannounced visit to Zhejiang University on Wednesday, marking the 10th anniversary of the Mobile Application Innovation programme co-founded by Apple and the Chinese university.
During the visit, Cook announced a donation of RMB 30 million (SGD 5.6 million) from Apple to support programming education and deepen the company’s partnership with the institution.
The funds will establish the Apple Mobile Application Incubation Fund, which will offer technical training in app development, product design, marketing, and business operations. It will also connect student developers with industry resources through workshops, internships, and mentorships.
Zhejiang University, located in Hangzhou, is one of China’s top academic institutions and a member of the C9 League, often referred to as China’s Ivy League.
Apple and Zhejiang University have collaborated for a decade on mobile application innovation. Since 2016, they have co-hosted the Mobile Application Innovation Competition, which has attracted over 30,000 participants from nearly 1,000 universities across China.
This latest donation brings the total funding from Apple to the university to RMB 80 million (SGD 14.9 million) over the past ten years.
Cook said coding is a powerful tool for creation, communication, and problem-solving, and expressed excitement about strengthening the partnership to support the next generation of developers.
The visit comes as Apple faces regulatory hurdles in China, with Apple Intelligence features currently unavailable on iPhone 16 models in the country. Apple is exploring partnerships with local AI firms to bring these features to Chinese users, though no official agreements have been announced.
Tim Cook visited Zhejiang University to mark a 10-year partnership
Apple donated RMB 30 million (SGD 5.6 million) to support programming education
The funds will create a new incubation fund for student developers
Source: TECHNODE