The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Li Ning (China) Sports Goods Co., Ltd (Li Ning Group) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the "Li-Ning – PolyU Joint Research Centre for Sports Science" (the Centre). The Centre aims to conduct fundamental research in sports science and ergonomics, drive innovative design and optimisation of high-performance sports products, nurture talent in sports science and technology, and strengthen industry-academia-research collaboration, thereby enhancing technological application and promoting industrial transformation within the sports and health sector.
Witnessed by Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President and Mr Ning LI, Founder of the Li Ning Brand and Executive Chairman of Li Ning Group, the MoU was signed by Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Mr Yuru HONG, Vice President and Chief Sports Officer of Li Ning Group, officially marking the establishment of the "Li-Ning – PolyU Joint Research Centre for Sports Science".
Prof. Jin-Guang Teng said, "PolyU is committed to nurturing sports talent and advancing research innovation and technology transfer in sports. Focusing on interdisciplinary research in sports science, the Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports) under the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) is dedicated to delivering advanced solutions for the sports sector. The newly established Li-Ning – PolyU Joint Research Centre for Sports Science will harness the University's robust research strengths and Li Ning Group's extensive market expertise to drive innovation in sports science and technology, fostering positive impacts on industry and society and contributing to the Nation's technological self-reliance and high-quality development."
Mr Ning Li said, "Innovative applications derived from sports science are essential for sports brands to upgrade their research and development capabilities and are critical for driving the innovative development of China's sports industry. PolyU's research excellence and academic impact in sports science and related interdisciplinary areas are among the best in the world. This opportunity enables us to fully leverage our understanding of industrial trends, experience in industrial applications, and sports and market resources to initiate deep collaboration with PolyU. Together, we will advance research at the forefront of sports science and create an internationally competitive innovation ecosystem."
Jointly operated by PolyU RISports and Li Ning Group, the Centre aims to contribute to the Healthy China Initiative and foster innovation in the sports industry. The inaugural centre coordinators are Prof. Ming ZHANG, Director of RISports, Head of the PolyU Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chair Professor of Biomechanics, and Prof. Ye TIAN, from Li-Ning Sports Science Research Center.
The Centre will conduct fundamental research in sports science and ergonomics, focusing on areas such as elite athlete performance, exercise characteristics and musculoskeletal health in youth, and exercise pattern in women, supporting the innovative design, functional validation and optimisation of high-performance sports products. The parties will also jointly nurture research and engineering talent in sports science and technology, and promote industry-academia-research collaboration to enhance technological applications and drive industrial transformation in the sports and health sector, thereby achieving synergistic innovation.
PolyU will leverage its academic strengths by assembling a team of scholars, researchers, sports experts and industry professionals to pursue impactful research. Meanwhile, Li Ning Group will utilise its extensive resources in product development, market demand and user feedback to provide practical direction for the research and support the smooth implementation of the projects.
