Apple has announced that it will be opening its first iOS app development center in Europe at a partner institution in Naples, Italy. Apple expects to expand this program to other countries around the world in the future.

The center will provide a specialized curriculum for students to learn practical skills and training on developing iOS apps, and Apple will work with partners around Italy who train developers to create additional opportunities for students.



Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company's ecosystem now supports 1.4 million jobs in Europe, including 1.2 million jobs attribute to the app economy. In Italy, specifically, Apple said over 75,000 jobs are linked to the App Store.

“Europe is home to some of the most creative developers in the world and we’re thrilled to be helping the next generation of entrepreneurs in Italy get the skills they need for success,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “The phenomenal success of the App Store is one of the driving forces behind the more than 1.4 million jobs Apple has created in Europe and presents unlimited opportunities for people of all ages and businesses of all sizes across the continent.”

Apple recorded a record-breaking $1.1 billion in App Store sales during the 2015 holiday season. Christmas Day and New Year's Day both set single-day records, with customers spending over $144 million on January 1, 2016 in particular.

Apple has now paid European developers over €10.2 billion since the App Store launched.