Sportstech
The interplay between humans and technology is a core area of research in sports technology. Expert product and process development in sporting and outdoor equipment is carried out at Sportstech at Mid Sweden University in Östersund.
The engineering programme and research at Sportstech is geared towards product development and design in the sports, outdoor and experiential industries. Sportstech has advanced tools for assessing the functionality of existing products and the expertise to improve and develop new, innovative products. It has a unique workshop, including a prototyping machine that provides almost unlimited opportunities for developing prototypes, even in metal.
“We rest on two cornerstones – the students’ passion for sport and the outdoors, and that our research should be suitable for industry,” says Mikael Bäckström, Assistant Professor and Programme Head for Sportstech.
Master’s thesis and research projects at Sportstech are carried out in close cooperation with the many outdoor companies in the region, but also with national and international companies such as Haglöfs, Primus and Halti in Finland. The desire is to further develop partnerships with trade and industry, as Mikael Bäckström explains:
“Sportstech is a young but very ambitious research environment. We are good at technology, but need to be even better at commercialisation and attracting companies and investors, not least from abroad.”
Sportstech works on strengthening and deepening ties with European research environments and businesses. One example is the recently partnership with Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM) within the framework of a textile project.
“It’s all about creating interest in our research whilst also benefitting from the work done by our European colleagues; this also benefits the region in the form of new knowledge and new opportunities,” concludes Mikael Bäckström.
More information about Sportstech – download pdf.
