Research at SATRA
For 100 years, research has been at the heart of SATRA’s operations. During this time, the contribution SATRA has made to the global footwear industry is significant. This research continues to benefit many sectors of industry and includes the development of innovative materials and components, the enhancement of product performance attributes, and the optimisation of production.
Project research
SATRA is widely recognised as the world’s pre-eminent research and technology organisation for the footwear industry. We dedicate a considerable proportion of our resources to investigating industry technical problems, producing solutions, and developing the next generation of test methods, test machines and manufacturing principles.
Designated Authorised Research projects are funded by SATRA and intended to benefit the industry rather than an individual company. These projects are focused on either solving a problem or developing an industry opportunity, and are judged to offer value to either a specific sector (for instance, sports footwear) or more generally. These development projects are also the means by which fundamental new test methods and test machines are developed. SATRA member companies are welcome to provide input to a project, for example with details of the project definition or provision of samples for testing. In some instances, a shared project can be established with a proportion of the IP (Intellectual Property) divided between SATRA and the Member company.
Contract research
As well as its traditional project research, SATRA also conducts Contract Research. Such projects are undertaken by SATRA and conducted on behalf of, and commissioned by, a specific SATRA member company. Typically, these projects are either addressing a problem to be solved or a product development need. The research teams draw on their product, manufacturing and research experience to work with the member to define the scope of the issue to be addressed and means of approach relevant to the issue in question. A project is defined and costed (in some cases the costs are shared) and Intellectual Property (IP) defined. The scope of these projects varies significantly and recent examples have included the optimisation of a sports shoe upper to improve the product’s resistance to scuffing from artificial turf, changing footwear design to improve durability, using extreme test performance parameters as a basis for product development.