Apple's 'Altoran' Comes to Two Locations in Pohang... Building a Win-Win Ecosystem in Partnership with Gyeongbuk Province and Pohang City

Apple Manufacturing R&D Support Center Signs Memorandum of Understanding to Establish and Operate Developer Academy

Apple, Gyeongbuk Province, Pohang City, and POSTECH signed a memorandum of understanding on the 27th at Pohang City Hall in Gyeongbuk for the establishment and operation of the "Apple Manufacturing R&D Support Center" and the "Developer Academy."

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Two major institutions responsible for supporting research and development functions and talent cultivation of the global company Apple are settling in Pohang, Gyeongbuk.

They are the ‘Apple Manufacturing R&D Support Center’ and the ‘Developer Academy.’

On the afternoon of the 27th, Apple, Gyeongbuk Province, Pohang City, and POSTECH signed a memorandum of understanding at the large conference room of Pohang City Hall in Gyeongbuk to establish and operate the ‘Apple Manufacturing R&D Support Center’ and the ‘Developer Academy.’

Apple will establish two institutions within the POSTECH campus to support smart processes and eco-friendly manufacturing technologies for domestic small and medium-sized enterprises, and to nurture core personnel, investing 40 billion KRW and 25 billion KRW respectively over three years. These institutions will be jointly operated by Apple and POSTECH.

The R&D Support Center is planned to be operated as the world’s first manufacturing-specialized center, and the Developer Academy, which cultivates core software talents, will be established for the first time in Korea.

The Support Center will build the latest equipment related to smart processes to strengthen the smart manufacturing capabilities of SMEs, with Apple’s experts residing on-site to provide education and consulting to selected SMEs nationwide.

While the center focuses on smart factories, it has decided not to claim any rights over the eligibility of participating companies or the outcomes obtained by companies through the support center.

The Academy will provide education to nurture talented developers, entrepreneurs, and designers through exemplary cases of Korean developers who have achieved remarkable success in the global iOS app (application) field, such as Snow and KakaoBank.

This Academy currently operates in three countries: Italy, Brazil, and Indonesia. The Korean Academy will select about 200 trainees annually and provide a nine-month education program.

Gyeongbuk Province and Pohang City expect this attraction to contribute to a revolutionary improvement in the youth venture startup environment, enhancement of technological capabilities of local SMEs, and strengthening of global competitiveness.

Additionally, Gyeongbuk Province and Pohang City plan to develop POSTECH into a ‘4th Industrial Innovation Valley’ similar to the non-capital area Pangyo Techno Valley.

If Apple’s plan to invest 100 billion KRW over 10 years is realized, it is estimated to generate a production inducement effect of 15.974 trillion KRW, a value-added inducement effect of 7.141 trillion KRW, and employment inducement effect of about 5,000 jobs.

Yoon Goo, President of Apple Korea, said on the day, “The Apple Developer Academy and Manufacturing R&D Support Center will provide essential technologies and knowledge to domestic developers, entrepreneurs, and students, greatly enhancing the national economic value.”

Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk Province, said, “Local governments are like corporations created together with 3 million residents and local companies,” and added, “We will make Apple a partner in creating our regional industrial policies and provide bold support.”

Lee Kang-deok, Mayor of Pohang City, said, “The establishment of two core partner institutions of Apple will provide opportunities for innovation and securing global competitiveness even in Korea.”

Kim Moo-hwan, President of POSTECH, said, “Not only entrepreneurs and students but also the industry will gain new opportunities for learning and innovation,” and “We expect it to greatly contribute to enhancing Korea’s competitiveness in the global market.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.