Ahlquist to lead Taubman College’s role in new ASICS x Michigan Sport Innovation Center backed by $25M commitment
The University of Michigan has announced a new, multiyear research collaboration with ASICS to establish the ASICS x Michigan Sport Innovation Center. The pioneering research effort established through U-M Innovation Partnerships aims to advance human performance and sport science through multidisciplinary collaborations across campus, including Taubman College’s Sean Ahlquist.
Led by Ken Kozloff, co-director of the Human Performance & Sport Science Center, the initiative engages faculty from College of Engineering, School of Kinesiology, Taubman College, Institute for Social Research, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, and Michigan Medicine, who will join forces with ASICS to approach complex challenges from multiple perspectives. The Japan-based athletic wear company will commit $25 million in funding to support the project.
The university’s culture of cross-disciplinary collaboration was key to ASICS’ decision to establish its first U.S.-based hub for athlete-focused research at U-M after evaluating many universities.
“By tackling the challenges of athletic performance from diverse vantage points, we will strengthen our impact in unique ways,” Kozloff said. “The collaboration between the university and ASICS will yield new innovations in athletic footwear and training gear, supporting athletes of all levels.”
Ahlquist, associate professor of architecture and faculty director of the Master of Science in Digital Materials Technology, brings years of expertise in materials research and interdisciplinary collaboration to the project. Working with state-of-the-art industrial knitting machines, his work explores novel material systems through research with the automotive industry, the health care sector, and behavioral science. Through ongoing partnerships with General Motors and collaborations with kinesiology, psychology, and a range of disability communities, Ahlquist’s work has, in part, explored sensory-responsive material technologies as ways to improve accessibility and communication for individuals with disabilities, caregivers, and healthcare providers.
“I am excited to further expand our knowledge and expertise in materials innovation with ASICS to develop new technologies that balance both athletic performance and well-being. This reflects ASICS’ focus on a balanced life through sound mind and sound body, and leverages our well-established collaborations with fields such as materials science and movement science,” Ahlquist said. “This is a unique collaboration for Taubman College that connects how research, design, and material exploration can play across a wide range of industries, well beyond architecture.”
“With his team of graduate students and associates, Ahlquist is defining the state of the art by knitting customized fabrics and assemblies that can enclose space and interact with our bodies and senses in new ways,” said Dean Jonathan Massey. “This collaboration shows how, when a top university supports work across disciplines and partners with industry leaders, advanced architectural research can shape not only how we build but also what we wear, how we move, and how we play sports.”
Kathy Velikov, associate dean for research and practice, said the center’s aim to foster innovations that leverage leading technology, data-driven solutions, and human-centered design aligns perfectly with Taubman College’s strengths.
“This exciting collaboration reflects our multi-year investments in faculty research development, world-class facilities, and cross-campus collaboration,” Velikov said. “Experimental material prototyping is an integral part of the work at Taubman College, and we look forward to the new research that will emerge.”
Read more about the ASICS x Michigan Sport Innovation Center at The University Record.
