Research and Development
Being a performance leader in our industry, product innovation leadership is critical to the ongoing success of our Group. As a result, research and development (R & D) is a cornerstone for our business going forward. We invest considerable resources into continuously developing and commercializing technological innovations and fresh design ideas, in order to best unite our brands’ values with the unique needs of our consumers. The research and development process is driven by internal teams of designers, product developers as well as in-house experts from the fields of biomechanics, materials technology, product and process engineering, design and similar disciplines.
AMBITIOUS R&D TARGETS
Research and development is crucial
for our Group’s success as we continuously strive to meet
and exceed the expectations of our consumers and customers
with respect to technology and design. Numerous awards for
our innovative products are proof of our technology leadership
within our industry. These awards are important for our Group
as they demonstrate our innovation leadership in footwear and
apparel to consumers. Our Group’s commitment to bringing at
least one new revolutionary technology or ground-breaking
evolution to the market each year highlights that research and
development remains a cornerstone for our Group going forward. 
see Group Strategy
EFFICIENT R & D STRUCTURE
Research and development
within the adidas Group is organized in a decentralized structure,
i. e. each brand separately runs its own research, design
and development activities, with major locations in several
countries. To maximize efficiency, our brand teams collaborate
closely, sharing fundamental and biomechanical research
as well as existing technologies. In 2007, we incorporated
a last from a version of the adidas Predator® football boot into
Reebok’s new Sprintfit product. This transfer of basic football
know-how highlights the type of technology sharing we strive
to promote within the Group. Another example of intra-Group
know-how transfer is the incorporation of adidas TORSION®
technology
throughout a current collection of Rockport footwear.
Within our brands, R & D teams generally
have a dual
focus
dedicated to different product categories and to new
technology platforms. Cross-category technology sharing,
such as the transfer of the adidas ForMotion™ technology from
running to basketball at the adidas
brand, the KFS technology
from running to football or the Movable Weight Technology™
from metalwoods to irons at TaylorMade, helps to further
optimize
and commercialize our R & D efforts in an efficient
way. The adidas Group also purchases
a limited amount
of R & D expertise
from well-established research partners,
in particular fundamental research.
MAJOR TECHNOLOGY-RELATED AWARDS
Won by the adidas Group in 2007
| Award | Magazine | Product | Segment |
| Best Motion Stabilizing Shoe | -- Running Network US |
adiSTAR Control 4 running shoe |
adidas |
| Best Updated Shoe | -- Runner’s World US |
Supernova Cushion running shoe |
adidas |
| Best Updated Shoe | - Runner’s World UK |
adiSTAR Cushion 6 running shoe |
adidas |
| Best Cushioning Shoe | -- Running Network US |
Premier Road Cushion KFS |
Reebok |
| Best Debut Shoe Trail Category |
-- Runner’s World US |
Premier Minocqua TR |
Reebok |
| Best Apparel Company | -- Golf Week |
adidas Golf apparel |
TaylorMade- adidas Golf |
|
ADIDAS GROUP R & D STRUCTURE |
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