Within Delft University there is a long history in research in the field of materials and products, biomechanics and their linkage being human-material interaction. Topics included in this research theme are the development, construction and application of new products and materials, optimization and analysis of human movement through musculoskeletal modeling, and the optimization of human-material or human-product interaction.

The use of the latest materials can make the difference between winning or losing in elite level sports. Delft University has fundamental expertise on the development and application of new techniques, specifically in the field of light-weight constructing and material sciences. The latter has traditionally not been involved in sports research, however its application in the field of sports engineering yields great potential. This can be followed by the creation of new products, the core of the Faculty Industrial Design Engineering. This field has a natural ground for collaboration with sports industry and SME’s, especially when applied to recreational sports and thereby larger groups of consumers.

Biomechanics are in an important research area within the analysis of sport. With the use of athlete-specific musculoskeletal models, optimal configurations can be predicted, such as the most efficient crank length in cycling or the angle at which maximum push-off can be generated in speed skating. However, musculoskeletal models can also be used for injury prevention, as is currently being done in the STW funded project “fast and injury free throwing in baseball”, and by the YES!Delft company EXO-L (EXO-L is a brace to prevent you from spraining you ankle, without hampering mobility).