Apple is opening five developer academies in Türkiye, starting in 2027

Apple plans five free developer academies, an Istanbul developer center and an Ankara manufacturing academy over the next three years. Here's what's coming.

10 Nov 2026, 05:502 min read

Image: NTV.com.tr

Apple has announced a long-term investment in Türkiye: five developer academies, one developer center and one manufacturing academy, all offering free training. The first doors open in Istanbul in 2027.

What happened?

The US tech giant published its announcement on 9 November. The goal is to support software developers, entrepreneurs and manufacturers in Türkiye.

The programmes will cover coding, design, marketing, project management, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing. Training and mentoring will be free.

What exactly is coming?

Five Apple Developer Academies will open in different parts of Türkiye within three years. The first one starts in Istanbul in 2027. Students and entrepreneurs will take a free, intensive nine-month programme. There are currently 19 such academies worldwide.

An Apple Developer Center in Istanbul is also planned for 2027. Developers and tech companies will be able to work directly with Apple experts through workshops, in-person events and one-to-one consultations. It will join Apple's centers in Bengaluru, Berlin, Cupertino, Shanghai and Singapore.

An Apple Manufacturing Academy in Ankara is due in 2028. It will be Apple's first manufacturing academy outside the US. Small and medium-sized businesses, students and entrepreneurs will learn about AI, machine learning, automation, robotics and predictive maintenance, with hands-on labs and workshops.

Why does it matter?

Apple says it wants Turkish developers to play a bigger role in the global app market and to help new startups get off the ground. It also wants local manufacturers to adopt smart production technology and become more efficient.

Tim Cook noted that Apple has operated in Türkiye for 35 years and said the country's developer community builds apps used around the world.

What happened before?

The announcement follows Cook's visit to Türkiye. He went to Anıtkabir (Atatürk's mausoleum) in Ankara and was received by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Presidential Complex. Erdoğan said they discussed the future of global digital technologies and Apple's support for Türkiye's app economy.