Apple to open seven developer and manufacturing facilities across Türkiye starting in 2027
U.S. technology giant Apple will open seven training and support facilities across Türkiye, including five software developer academies, a dedicated developer center in İstanbul, and its first manufacturing academy outside the United States.
Unveiled on Nov. 9 after senior-level talks in Ankara, the multiyear initiative is scheduled to begin in 2027 by opening an initial developer academy and a developer center in İstanbul, the country's main commercial and financial center. A dedicated manufacturing academy is set to open the following year in the capital, Ankara, in 2028. Apple has not released the overall monetary value of the investment.
The plans were made public after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hosted Apple Executive Chairman Tim Cook at Ankara's presidential complex on Nov. 9. The meeting also included Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır, who leads Türkiye's industrial and technology policymaking.
Erdoğan said the discussions focused on the future of digital technology and Apple's role in supporting Türkiye's growing application economy. Kacır welcomed the initiative, stating that Türkiye would continue to expand its digital economy by leveraging its skilled workforce.
Expanding the global developer network
Apple plans to establish the five Apple Developer Academies across the country over a three-year period. Each academy will offer free, intensive nine-month courses covering coding, design, marketing, project management, and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The curriculum also addresses accessibility, privacy, and sustainability to prepare students, designers, and aspiring entrepreneurs for careers in the software sector.
Launched globally in 2013, the Apple Developer Academy program currently operates 19 facilities worldwide. The addition of five centers in Türkiye represents a major expansion of that international educational footprint.
Alongside the first academy, the Apple Developer Center scheduled to open in İstanbul in 2027 will join an exclusive group of just five other such hubs globally, located in Cupertino, Bengaluru, Berlin, Shanghai, and Singapore. The center will give local startups and engineering teams direct access to Apple specialists, technical tools, workshops, and one-on-one consultations aimed at improving application design, quality, and performance.
"Apple has been serving customers and communities in Türkiye for 35 years. With this new commitment, we are proud to support the next generation of innovative entrepreneurs in the years ahead," Cook said in a statement released by the company.
"Türkiye's developer community is creating apps that are used around the world, while small and medium-sized businesses are emerging as organizations that create opportunities across the country," Cook added, noting that the new hubs will provide local talent with training, resources, and direct access to company experts.
First manufacturing academy outside the U.S.
On the industrial side, the Apple Manufacturing Academy scheduled to open in Ankara in 2028 will be the company's second such facility worldwide and its first outside the United States.
In Ankara, the center will offer no-cost training and advisory support to students, entrepreneurs, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It will be equipped with practical training labs alongside collaborative areas designed for live demonstrations.
Courses led by Apple specialists will focus on helping domestic manufacturers adopt smart production techniques, covering areas such as:
- Machine learning applications in industrial production
- Predictive maintenance systems
- Advanced automation and robotics
- Lean operations and manufacturing efficiency
Locations and opening dates for the remaining four developer academies outside the initial İstanbul facility have not yet been announced, though all five are slated to become operational within the three-year rollout window.
