Japanese sportswear giant Asics has launched a $25 million partnership with the University of Michigan to create the Asics Michigan Sport Innovation Center (AMSI). Located on the Ann Arbor campus, this advanced research facility aims to translate university-led scientific discoveries into innovative footwear products, focusing largely on running and athletic performance. The collaboration is part of Asics Institute of Sport Science America and marks the company’s first industry-academic innovation lab in the U.S., broadening Asics’ global research reach beyond its Kobe, Japan headquarters.

The AMSI Lab consists of six specialized research areas, including biomechanics, bio-inspired design, novel shoe structures leveraging kirigami folding techniques, 3D fabric materials, energy efficiency concepts, and consumer-focused biosocial methods. By combining the University of Michigan’s expertise in robotics and engineering with Asics’ product knowledge, the partnership intends to accelerate innovation from concept through athlete feedback and into marketable products. Notably, this approach reflects Asics’ recognition of the U.S. as a critical growth market, where the company currently sees significant potential for expansion.

Mitsuyuki Tominaga, Asics’ global president and COO, emphasizes that collaborating with a diverse group of researchers in America complements the incremental innovation approach traditionally seen in Japan. This blend of cultural and intellectual resources is expected to generate fresh ideas and materials that could redefine performance footwear lines like Kayano and Nimbus, or lead to completely new offerings. The partnership also supports local athlete testing in the U.S., allowing product development to be more directly tailored to consumer behavior and needs in a key market.

While products born from the AMSI research may not reach shelves until around 2028 or later, the collaboration is already producing valuable insights. University research inspired by animal locomotion, such as the protective traits of boxfish or moisture-wicking strategies from desert lizards, is being explored for practical application in footwear technology. The partnership aims to foster out-of-the-box thinking and faster translation of science into superior running gear, ultimately strengthening Asics’ presence in the global sports and running segments, which constitute about 60% of its business overall.