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adidas Group
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2014 Annual Report
Group Management Report – Our Group
74
2014
Research and Development
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02.6
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Selective purchase of external R&D expertise
In addition to its internal R&D efforts, the adidas Group also purchases a limited amount of R&D
expertise from well-established research partners. This strategy allows for greater flexibility and
faster access to know-how. Moreover, this accelerates the rate at which knowledge is built up
internally and across the Group. To increase efficiency and protect research results, collaborations
are usually long-term and exclusive. Major adidas relationships exist with the University of
Calgary, Canada, the University of Michigan and Oregon State University, USA, the University of
Loughborough, UK, the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, RWTH Aachen University, the University
of Bayreuth and the University of Freiburg, Germany.
In addition, the adidas Group participates in a collaborative initiative called ‘Speedfactory’, which
is a research project under the umbrella of the Industry 4.0 initiative of the German government.
It focuses on a new era of autonomic robotic manufacturing by combining state-of-the-art
information and communication technologies (ICT) with industrial production, innovative products
and skill-intensive electronic services. Research topics include production logistics, cognitive basic
technologies, human-machine interaction and 3-D industrial applications. Within Speedfactory, the
adidas Group is reviewing the whole process chain from raw material to the final product. Since
2014, we are combining and integrating new materials and process technologies into software
solutions to enable automated and flexible production solutions. More information on Speedfactory
can be found on our website.
www.adidas-group.com/en/group/stories/
adidas-future-manufacturing
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Major R&D activities and locations
Main activities Major locations
adidas
The adidas FUTURE team is divided into groups that focus on performance footwear,
apparel and hardware innovation, within which there are individual product
focus categories. The teams are closely integrated with associated functions and
resources to increase efficiencies and flexibility in all aspects of innovation and
technology development.
Global Development
Centre
(FUTURE)
Global Development
Centre
(FUTURE)
Herzogenaurach,
Germany
Portland/
Oregon, USA
Dedicated innovation development centres in Asia, working closely with these
teams, concentrate on the realisation of concepts through functional product
develop ment as part of the creation process. These centres are important in
terms of develop ment efficiencies, as product and technology development
takes place in real production environments.
Product Creation
Centre
Product Creation
Centre
Shanghai, China
Tokyo, Japan
Reebok
R&D teams at Reebok create footwear, apparel and hardware with the primary
emphasis being on fitness. Teams are structured along the brand’s category
priorities. In addition, there are certain cross-category groups such as the Reebok
Advanced Concepts (RAC) team, which ensures specific concepts can be taken right
through from initial idea to production.
Global Development
and Testing Centre
Canton/
Massachusetts,
USA
Collaboration partners at Advanced Development Centres in China and Vietnam
focus on new technology developments, cutting-edge materials and treatments
as well as manufacturing solutions.
Advanced Develop-
ment Centre
Development and
Testing Centre
Fuzhou, China
Ho Chi Minh,
Vietnam
TaylorMade-adidas Golf
TaylorMade-adidas Golf’s R&D team is focused on continuously designing and
developing industry-leading products. The team is structured according to the
different product categories in golf.
Global Development
and Testing Centre
Carlsbad/
California,
USA
Reebok-CCM Hockey
The R&D team at Reebok-CCM Hockey is dedicated to continuously creating state-
of-the-art ice hockey equipment designed to improve the experience for both profes-
sional and recreational players. R&D teams are category-specific, combining the
design, engineering and product management functions. The goal of this structure
is to create category expertise and improve speed to market.
Development and
Testing Centre
Montreal/
Quebec, Canada