PolyU and Li Ning Group jointly establish sports science research centre to advance sports science and industry innovation | PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR)

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Li Ning (China) Sports Goods Co., Ltd (Li Ning Group) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 8 September 2025 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. TENG Jin-Guang, PolyU President, and Mr LI Ning, 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 HONG Yuru, Vice President and Chief Sports Officer of Li Ning Group.

Jointly operated by the Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (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. ZHANG Ming, Director of RISports, Head of the PolyU Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chair Professor of Biomechanics, and Prof. TIAN Ye, 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.

Press release: https://polyu.me/4nnzfDP

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