Loughborough University Sports Technology Institute is a £15M venture with emda, the East Midlands Development Agency. The Institute’s researchers seek to have a positive social and economic impact on sport globally through excellent engineering research and teaching. The Institute also aims to boost enterprise in the sport and leisure sector and develop cutting-edge technology to assist elite athletes in preparation for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.  The Sports Technology Research Group, based at the Institute has an international reputation for its work with global brands on the design, simulation, testing and manufacture of sports equipment.