ASICS and the University of Michigan have opened AMSI Lab in Ann Arbor, giving their research partnership a dedicated site for work intended to move from academic investigation into running and performance product development.

The October 26 announcement describes AMSI Lab as ASICS’ first industry-academia innovation laboratory. Six faculty-led projects will examine biomechanics, materials, robotics, design, computer vision and athlete preferences, working with ASICS scientists, product developers and athletes on prototypes and testing.

A new operating base for the partnership

The laboratory is part of the ASICS Michigan Sport Innovation Center, a joint program established through the companies’ broader research collaboration. The lab opening is a new milestone in that existing relationship: it creates a physical setting where university researchers and ASICS teams can work together on movement, materials and product concepts.

Several projects put footwear design directly in view. Researchers are studying animal movement across uneven terrain for potential footwear concepts, exploring kirigami-inspired shoe structures and investigating how runner preferences relate to product characteristics. Other work focuses on movement analysis from video and new textile structures.

Research enters the product-development pipeline

Athletes will provide feedback as ideas move into experiments and prototypes. ASICS says research from the lab is expected to begin informing new running and performance products by 2028, placing the facility’s value in the development process now being built rather than in a product launch today.

The opening advances ASICS’ longer-term Michigan research investment with a defined set of projects and a route toward future product concepts. The stated timetable gives the partnership a measurable next horizon: how its research translates into footwear, apparel and performance technologies.