Companies

Asics opens running innovation lab with University of Michigan

Nov 4, 2026 Japan

The Japan-based sportswear company is investing 25 million USD in a research collaboration with the University of Michigan, with the aim of developing new technologies for running shoes and clothing

In partnership with the University of Michigan, Asics has opened its first industry-academia research and development laboratory. Based at the university’s Ann Arbor campus in the United States, the AMSI Lab will concentrate on converting academic research into new technologies and product concepts to enhance running performance.

“Asics has always placed athletes at the center of its research and product development. Working with the University of Michigan allows us to engage with new thinking across science, engineering, and design that can challenge how we approach performance innovation. Our goal is to turn that knowledge into meaningful advances that help people move”, commented Mitsuyuki Tominaga, President and COO of Asics.

U-M President Domenico Grasso emphasised that “The University of Michigan and Asics share the conviction that research should benefit people by providing what they need to live and move well”. “The AMSI Lab connects Michigan researchers from across the university with Asics innovators to advance scientific research and accelerate the development of materials to help athletes of all levels”, he added.

The laboratory brings together the company’s researchers and product developers alongside university experts specialising in areas such as biomechanics, materials science, robotics, design and computer vision. Projects will explore topics such as adaptive footwear structures and advanced materials and technologies designed to enhance running efficiency.

Athletes will participate in the research process by providing feedback to help evaluate and refine new concepts in real-world conditions.

“The AMSI Lab provides a space for us to combine our breadth of research strengths across campus with Asics expertise in order to bring new innovations to light. By translating discoveries made in the lab into testable prototypes, we are looking forward to helping runners at every level train and recover better”, said Ken Kozloff, Co-Director of the Asics Michigan Sport Innovation Center.

The collaboration has been made possible thanks to a 25 million US dollars investment from Asics and is part of the company’s wider strategy to strengthen its global research and development capabilities. Asics expects findings from the laboratory to inform new running and performance products by 2028.

Image Credits: corp.asics.com

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