Academia-industry collaboration: a catalyst for sports product innovation in the UK

It has been reported that the UK economy is in transition to a new phase, where R&D investment is seen as essential to maintain competitiveness with other countries. This paper considers the implications on the sports product industry, and how it must adapt in transition. We report on the outcomes of the Sports SET Network initiatives to encourage innovation through industry collaborations with academia. We examine the key factors that determine successful R&D through collaboration, and identify current strengths and weakness within UK sector. This is a clear acceptance by the industry that innovation is required for success in an increasingly competitive global market, but the knowledge base and skills levels required are generally insufficient to perform the initial R&D. Academia can have a key role in this aspect, and in conclusion this paper outlines a basic model for the collaborative approach to successful R&D for sport product innovation.