[DECEMBER 19, 2025 – TOKYO, JAPAN & ANN ARBOR, Mich.] ASICS, one of the global leaders in sports innovation, today announced the establishment of its first U.S. research hub, ASICS Institute of Sport Science America LLC, and the signing of a multi-year strategic research agreement with the University of Michigan. These initiatives mark major steps for ASICS in accelerating breakthroughs in sport science and technology through collaboration with one of the world's leading academic institutions.
The newly established ASICS Institute of Sport Science America LLC will launch a joint research program with the University named the ASICS-Michigan Sport Innovation Center, based on the University of Michigan’s Ann Arbor campus. This program will include a dedicated sports lab on campus, serving as a hub for advanced research in biomechanics, exercise physiology, AI-driven design, and bioengineering. The collaboration represents a commitment by ASICS of $25 million, underscoring ASICS’ dedication to combining cutting-edge science with its heritage of craftsmanship.
This collaboration represents a significant step toward realizing ASICS’ vision of human-centric science—grounded in a deep understanding of the human body and movement, and leveraging advanced materials and structural design to maximize human potential through sport. Through interdisciplinary engagement with world-class faculty, this collaboration is expected to accelerate the expansion of ASICS’ research domains and elevate the expertise of its research teams. Establishing a research hub in North America will increase touchpoints with contracted ASICS athletes, enabling deeper data acquisition and a more comprehensive understanding of athlete performance. By extending these insights beyond elite competition to everyday movement and wellness, ASICS aims to deliver innovations that empower people everywhere to live healthier, more active lives—bringing ASICS closer to our founding vision of achieving a sound mind in a sound body.
“We are thrilled to partner with ASICS, an organization that shares our commitment to solving complex challenges through innovation and a human-centered approach,” said University of Michigan President Domenico Grasso. “Welcoming ASICS’ inaugural U.S. research hub is a tremendous honor and affirms the strength of our faculty, students and collaborative research culture, both locally and globally.”
Through this collaboration, ASICS aims to advance its Global Integrated Enterprise (GIE) approach by leveraging University of Michigan’s research capabilities and well-established running community to foster innovations that enhance human performance.
“We are honored to enter into a strategic partnership with the University of Michigan, one of the world’s leading research-oriented universities,” said Mitsuyuki Tominaga, President and COO of ASICS Corporation. “Since our founding, ASICS has upheld the philosophy of ‘Anima Sana In Corpore Sano’—a sound mind in a sound body—and has long supported athletes of all levels in achieving peak performance through fundamental research and advanced technology. Today, under our Mid-Term Plan 2026, we are driving long-term research focused on athletes to further strengthen innovation. Establishing this research entity in the United States—home to many of the world’s top athletes and a key market for our future growth—is a source of great pride for us. This initiative is part of that effort, aimed at building a global R&D network and accelerating athlete-focused research. Going forward, we will continue to make “what benefits athletes” the standard for all decisions, listen sincerely to athletes’ voices, and pursue product development that contributes to their success. By integrating the latest research, we will also strive to create breakthrough innovations.”
The University of Michigan is recognized for leading advanced research that integrates sports and technology, and for leveraging its top-tier engineering and design capabilities to enable rapid prototyping and testing—providing the essential elements needed to further advance the ASICS Institute of Sport Science. In addition, the University of Michigan has a strong track record of partnering with Japanese companies and a well-established collaborative model. Furthermore, Ann Arbor hosts a vibrant and passionate running community, which spans the performance spectrum from recreational runners to world-class training groups, making it an ideal environment to engage with athletes at all levels.
○About ASICS Institute of Sport Science (ISS)
ASICS has consistently pursued innovation through a global research framework that combines advanced technology with athlete-centric design. At the core of this effort is the ASICS Institute of Sport Science (ISS), which for decades has delivered breakthroughs in biomechanics, physiology, and data-driven performance analysis. In recent years, ISS has integrated AI-driven modeling, predictive analytics, and rapid prototyping into its R&D process, enabling highly precise insights that shape next-generation products.
ISS is committed to the principle of human-centric science, focusing on the detailed analysis of human movement and leveraging proprietary materials and structural design technologies to develop innovative solutions that maximize human potential through sport. As part of this mission, ASICS aims to pioneer world-class research domains, foster cross-industry collaboration within advanced research ecosystems, strengthen the global expertise of its research teams, and expand its presence beyond Japan by establishing research hubs in North America. With ASICS Institute of Sport Science America LLC, ASICS is creating more opportunities to engage with contracted athletes and deliver footwear that truly supports athletic performance.
