A SPORTING CHANCE

The UK should increase support for the sports engineering sector to grow start-ups and capitalise on its leading role in the field of sports engineering research, according to a report from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. 

The report recommends investment in specialised sports engineering research and testing facilities, that the sports technology industry should embrace independently audited ecolabels to improve sustainability, and that more data from elite research should be made open access to encourage innovation and inclusivity.

Dr Thomas Allen, co-author of the report and a reader in mechanical engineering at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: “The UK is a leader in sports engineering and with more support this could grow into an exciting network of home-grown start-ups to boost the economy. The challenge is to bring new and innovative sporting goods to market, which should ideally meet the needs of as many people as possible while having minimal impact on the environment.”

Read Sustainable, Inclusive, Innovative: The Role of Engineering in Sport at imeche.org