About STRN

STRN launched June 2020 in the middle of the pandemic. However, the idea to create the network already existed shortly after the first Sports Tech Transfer and R&D Summit in Ghent (Belgium) in October 2018. The initiative was also inspired by the 2017-2020 EU-INTERREG project Nano4Sports in which academic and industry partners developed various new technologies on the basis of multidisciplinary R&D (results of the project are summarized in this magazine).

Kristof De Mey (STRN founder): “In a sector which is becoming more and more competitive, we started to believe that the research community can and should play a larger role in the next decade in relation to companies, startups, clubs, etc., in order to develop and implement the most promising innovations possible. At the same time, research and innovation-driven professionals in the industry, in a variety of sports organizations and within the broader society, are in need for more effective and trustworthy solutions. So let's make that happen, together!”

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What's the problem?

Innovation is teamwork. However, when it comes to Sports Tech, there is still a large gap between experts from various academic fields. The same can be said when looking at scientific research in relation to what's happening in industry, sports practice and society. A lack of transparency, awareness and understanding between those often leads to inefficient use of resources, slow R&D and commercialization processes and a frequent dismatch with real-life needs.

These type of gaps can strongly limit the innovation potential, resulting in mediocre solutions, especially on the crossroads of sports with other domains such as medical and health.

In order to do something about this, STRN focuses on topics such as multi-disciplinary R&D, licensing & spin-offs, validation research, implementation strategies, etc., while dealing with a wide range of (digital) technologies and application domains.

Summarized, we create value for those interested in research-driven innovation within Sports and Technology.

Main academic stakeholders

Sports & Health, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation Scientists

For scientists working on technological topics in biomechanics, exercise & training, physical activity and behavioral change, motor learning and talent identification, injury prevention and rehabilitation, etc.

Engineers, Data Scientists and Computer Scientists

For scientists focusing on areas like wearables development, video analysis, data analytics and communication technologies, tracking systems etc. for sports applications

Sports Business and Management Researchers

For researchers dealing with topics such as innovation, marketing, entrepreneurship, finance, product design, technology transfer, etc. related to sports technology

Our key application domains

What is Sports Tech? Many people have tried to categorize different products based on the type of technology, the parameters to be measured and analyzed, the context in which the solution is used, etc.

In terms of application domains, we simplified this in the following areas. Our primary focus will be on the Health and Performance related aspects, with special attention to the intersections of the health, sports and medical technology ecosystems.

Health

- Fitness & physical activity

- Illness & injury prevention

- Rehab & return-to-sport

Performance

- Individual & team performance

- Talent ID & scouting

- Strength & conditioning

Business

- Fan engagement

- Media & marketing

- Organization & competition

Our main interests

Organization’s Expertise and Facilities

Funding options and Project formats

Sports practice & Industry challenges and Solutions

University-industry collaborations

Licensing and Spin-off opportunities

Theory to practice activities & Impact creation

Multi-disciplinary R&D and Cross-industry Innovation

Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship

Thanks to a great group of Ambassadors who've helped kick-starting the initiative

Benjamin Penkert

Founder at SportsTechX, providing the world with data & insights about SportsTech startups and the surrounding ecosystem.
Ambassador Sports Tech startups
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Cheri Bradish

Loretta Rogers Research Chair in Sport Marketing at Toronto Metropolitan University
Ambassador Sports Marketing
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Bryce Dyer

Deputy Head of Dpt, Design & Engineering, Bournemouth University (UK)
Ambassador Sports Tech Innovation Ethics aspects
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Martin Carlsson Wall

Director for Center for Sports and Business and The Accounting and Financial Management Center of Excellence, SSE (Sweden)
Ambassador Sports business studies & Executive education
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Dirk De Clercq

Em. Prof. Department of Movement and Sports Sciences at Ghent University. Footwear Biomechanics expert.
Ambassador Running Wearables & Analytics
Aline Fobe

Corporate Wellbeing Consultant at Energy Lab
Ambassador Sports Consulting
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Frederik E. Leys

Business Developer Centre for Microsystems Technology (CMST) at Ghent University - imec (Belgium)
Ambassador Sports Wearables & Analytics
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Ted Hayduk

Assistant Professor at New York University & author of the book 'Statistical Modelling and Sports Business Analytics' (USA)
Ambassadar Sports Innovation Ecyosystems
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Johsan Billingham

Research Manager at FIFA (Switzerland)
Ambassador Football Technology Innovation
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Håvard K. Bjor

COO at Igloo Innovation (Norway)
Ambassador Winter Sports Innovation
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Adam Karg

Director, Sport Innovation Research Group, Swinburne University of Technology (Australia)
Director, Sport Innovation Research Group
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Giorgi Khubua

Founder of smart mirror SOLOS (spinoff Technical University Munich) - Acquired by fitness company
Ambassador Entrepreneurship
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Stina Lundgren Högbom

Director of Sports Technology and Innovation at Svexa. National team manager for the Swedish Jujutsu Federation.
Ambassador SportsTech Innovation
Michael Naraine

Assistant Professor at Brock University, Department of Sport Management (Canada)
Ambassador Sports Business Marketing Analytics and Innovation
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Paolo Aversa

Associate Professor and Director of the Full-Time MBA in Strategy at Cass Business School
Ambassador Sports Business Analytics & Strategy
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Sam Robertson

Director at Track Consulting Group (Melbourne)
Sports Performance
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Dhruv Seshadri

Wearable Devices | Bioelectronics | Digital Health
Ambassador Sports Wearables & Analytics
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Steven Vos

Professor Sport, PA & designerly solutions Eindhoven University of Technology & Fontys Sporthogeschool (The Netherlands)
Ambassador Sports Wearables & Analytics
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John van de Laar

Business Developer imec.istart The Netherlands
Ambassador Sports Tech Business Development
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Jan Van Haaren

Football Data Scientist at Club Brugge
Ambassador Tracking & Analytics
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Tine Van Lommel

Spin-off and Innovation Manager at KU Leuven & Coordinator Sports.tech (Belgium)
Ambassador Sports Tech Innovation management
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Julie Vandenhouweele

Marketing Innovation & Strategy in Sports Business expert
Marketing strategy & Communication support
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Pascal Vuilliomenet

Strategic project Manager at EPFL
Ambassador Sports Tech R&D and Tech Transfer
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View Team members

What I really like about the Sports Tech Research Network, is the fact that it brings practitioners from a bunch of different fields who normally work in silos together to collaborate.

Joe Rogowski

NBA Players Association