Athletic apparel brand Under Armour is setting up shop at N.C. State's Centennial Campus in a new partnership aimed at innovation.
The global brand and university announced Thursday that Under Armour (NYSE: UA), based in Baltimore, has opened a center on the campus through a partnership that will see the company invest more than $1 million in research efforts with the university over the next year.
Under Armour employees will work alongside N.C. State researchers to develop new textiles and materials for the apparel, footwear and accessories industry. The two sides have signed a master research agreement that outlines efforts to bring new discoveries to market while making improvements to the textile industry's environmental impact.
"The addition of Under Armour on campus will result in meaningful experiences for our faculty and students," N.C. State Chancellor Randy Woodson said in a statement. "Through shared expertise, we look forward to strengthening textiles innovation, improving sustainability and developing future leaders for our industry."
The retailer selected N.C. State in order to tap into the university's talent pipeline and take advantage of its location in a leading state for textile manufacturing. Setting up shop on Centennial Campus also gives Under Armour the ability to collaborate with N.C. State's Nonwovens Institute, which the university says is the world's first academic program for the field of engineered fabrics, and its Wilson College of Textiles.
The university secures a partnership with one of the country's largest athletic brands with revenue of about $5.7 billion in 2021. In addition to the research dollars Under Armour is investing, the partnership opens up potential career opportunities for N.C. State students.
"Having Under Armour embedded in our Centennial Campus will help us further prepare students to become leaders in the textiles and apparel industry," said David Hinks, dean of the Wilson College of Textiles, in a statement.
This new partnership builds on previous work between Under Armour and the university. The retailer previously sponsored a project in which N.C. State students created a prototype jacket using a material developed from repurposed down insulation waste that is typically thrown away. Last spring, the retailer donated 12,000 yards of fabric to the university's College of Design for a student-run production spotlighting wearable art.
