ASICS unveiled AI-driven footwear design and manufacturing simulation technology with RebuilderAI at Paris’ VivaTech 2026, demonstrating a revolutionary R&D workflow.
A Historic Collaboration Takes Center Stage
Global sports brand ASICS joined RebuilderAI at VivaTech 2026 in Paris to unveil groundbreaking AI-powered footwear design technology. The event ran from June 17 to 20, 2026, at Europe’s largest technology exhibition. ASICS Ventures Corporation, an ASICS subsidiary, invested in RebuilderAI before this collaboration transformed their relationship from financial partnership into active R&D demonstration .
Both companies presented a concept design prototype developed through their collaborative research process. This prototype showcases the practical application of AI in footwear development and represents the most anticipated highlight of their joint exhibit.
VivaTech 2026: AI with Real Impact
VivaTech entered its 10th year with approximately 180,000 visitors and more than 14,000 startups attending. The 2026 theme, “AI: Impact, Not Illusion,” emphasized AI delivering real industry value rather than impressive but hollow demonstrations . This theme perfectly aligned with ASICS and RebuilderAI’s practical showcase of functioning technology.
The event attracted thousands of global investors annually, providing ASICS and RebuilderAI with exposure to potential partners and customers who understand transformative technology.
The Technology: From Sketch to Simulation
The core technology preserves designers’ original sketches and creative intent while converting them into precise 3D data through AI. This converted data generates in a Simulation-Ready state that feeds directly into CAE and FEA simulation systems .
RebuilderAI’s VRING:ON platform powers the entire workflow. This AI design and manufacturing integrated platform unifies design, 3D/CAD generation, simulation integration, and production automation into one seamless process. The platform significantly reduces time and effort needed to move from initial idea to validated, market-ready design.
The End-to-End Workflow Showcase
The event booth demonstrated an R&D process where a single footwear design concept flows seamlessly through AI-generated precision 3D data, manufacturing CAD data, and simulation. This end-to-end workflow from design concept to 3D CAD data and simulation represents the technology’s complete capability .
The shoe design concept created through this process serves as a tangible example of R&D in action. Visitors witnessed how the entire workflow operates in real time, transforming abstract concepts into production-ready specifications.
Human Centric Science Meets AI Innovation
This collaboration stems from ongoing work between RebuilderAI and ASICS’ Institute of Sport Science (ISS). The partnership message reads “Art and Science, powered by AI to drive product innovation” . ISS maintains Human Centric Science as its research philosophy, placing humans at innovation’s center while meticulously analyzing physical movement characteristics from every angle.
In this collaboration, ISS data and expertise serve as benchmarks for evaluating and validating AI-generated designs. RebuilderAI handles the process from AI-powered 2D sketches to 3D data construction. The two companies first connected when ASICS encountered RebuilderAI’s technology demo at CES.
Transforming Product Development
The joint exhibit introduces a new AI-integrated research and development process with potential to transform conventional product development concepts. ASICS Ventures valued this technology’s strategic potential, particularly its ability to dramatically reduce time between design and validation, leading to their investment decision .
This collaboration expands ISS’s R&D methodology by enabling creative design ideas to convert instantly into 3D data and validate immediately through simulation. Researchers explore broader design variations within the same development timeframe and identify the right structure more quickly.
Benefits for Users and the Industry
Users receive designs grounded in Human Centric Science reflected across wider product ranges at shorter development cycles. With AI as a new tool, ASICS cements its position as a brand leading in both sports science and digital innovation .
An ISS representative stated, “AI is not here to replace our existing design development flow. It is a new partner — one that helps us deliver accumulated research faster and to a broader audience.” They added, “When I saw AI automatically generating precise 3D data flowing directly into simulation, I felt the gap between design and validation shrink in an instant.”
The Future: Formalized Collaboration
With VivaTech serving as a key milestone, ASICS and RebuilderAI formalized their collaboration integrating Human Centric Science with AI-powered design and validation technology. Both companies jointly advance the development process revolution spanning design, validation, and manufacturing .
They build on the concept presented at this exhibit while looking ahead to next-generation product development. This partnership demonstrates how strategic investment combined with active R&D collaboration creates transformative industry innovation.
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