Apple CEO makes surprise visit to China, donates RMB 30 million to Zhejiang University

Credit: Tim Cook

On Wednesday, Apple CEO Tim Cook visited Zhejiang University for the 10th anniversary of the Mobile Application Innovation program, jointly founded by the US tech giant and the Chinese academic institution. Cook announced a donation by Apple of RMB 30 million ($4.13 million) to Zhejiang University to support programming education, aiming to deepen the company’s partnership with the university and foster future Chinese developers.

Why it matters: Located in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, Zhejiang University is one of China’s leading academic institutions and a member of the C9 League (China’s Ivy League). By supporting new developers, Apple can boost its App Store ecosystem and is well positioned for innovation and engagement within China’s tech industry, one of its crucial markets.

Details: Apple and Zhejiang University have a ten-year history of collaboration in mobile application innovation, according to state-owned media outlet Zhejiang Voice.

The donated funds will be used to establish the Apple Mobile Application Incubation Fund, which will provide systematic technical training in areas such as app development, product design, marketing, and business operations, the Zhejiang Voice report said. It will also connect student developers with industry resources through workshops, internships, and mentorships.

“We believe coding is a powerful tool that helps people create, communicate, and solve problems in new ways. We’re excited to strengthen our 10-year partnership with Zhejiang University and help the next generation of developers build great apps and start businesses,” said Cook.

Apple and Zhejiang University have co-hosted the Mobile Application Innovation Competition since 2016, engaging over 30,000 participants from nearly a thousand universities across China, state-owned media outlet Zhejiang News reported on Wednesday. This latest donation brings the decade-long partnership’s total funding to RMB 80 million ($11.02 million).Context：Apple Intelligence features on the iPhone 16 series are currently unavailable in China, due to regulatory concerns.  

To bring Apple Intelligence to Chinese iPhones, Apple is actively exploring partnerships with local AI companies. However, as of writing, no official details of any link-up have been disclosed.

Jessie Wu is a tech reporter based in Shanghai. She covers consumer electronics, semiconductor, and the gaming industry for TechNode. Connect with her via e-mail: [email protected].
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