Exploring an Integrated Innovation System Combining Industry and Research: ZULIZ Senior Shoes Partners with Soochow University

Recently, ZULIZ Senior Care Industry Development Co., Ltd. and Soochow University successfully held a signing and plaque presentation ceremony for their university-enterprise collaborative innovation initiative. Guests in attendance included Jiang Jingdong, Secretary of the Party Committee for Science and Technology at Soochow University; Zhang Keqin, Dean of the School of Textile and Apparel Engineering at Soochow University; Guan Jinping, Vice Dean; Professor Zheng Min’s research team; and representatives from ZULIZ Senior Care Industry Development Co., Ltd. ZULIZ Senior Care Industry Development Co., Ltd. and Soochow University will jointly establish the “Collaborative Innovation Center for the Application of Multifunctional Nanomaterials in Senior Footwear and Apparel” to explore an integrated innovation system that combines industry and research.

Signing Ceremony Between ZuliZ Senior Shoes and Soochow University

ZULIZ Senior Shoes Establishes First University-Enterprise Partnership to Jointly Tackle Technical Challenges in Applying New Materials to Senior Footwear and Apparel

To better serve regional economic and social development, an innovation consortium has been established—led by enterprises, supported by universities and research institutes, and featuring collaboration among various innovation entities. This initiative aims to fully leverage universities’ expertise in original innovation and basic research while actively integrating enterprises’ strengths in market development, engineering applications, and industrialization, thereby accelerating the transformation of scientific and technological innovation into tangible productive capacity.

ZULIZ Senior Shoes has partnered with Soochow University to establish the Collaborative Innovation Center for the Application of Multifunctional Nanomaterials in Senior Footwear and Apparel. The initiative aims to further enhance the professionalism and comfort of ZULIZ products by incorporating multifunctional nanomaterials into senior footwear and apparel. Additionally, ZULIZ Senior Shoes will provide internship and employment opportunities for Soochow University students, supporting their practical work experience from the corporate perspective.

It is reported that this Collaborative Innovation and Application Center will organize and implement projects to tackle key core industrial technologies, resolve technical challenges, and develop new technologies and products that are original, pioneering, and possess core competitiveness. Furthermore, the collaboration will be demand-driven, focusing on identifying and resolving major issues related to the integration of the innovation chain and industrial chain. It aims to address technical challenges encountered by ZULIZ senior footwear across R&D, production, and after-sales service, while accelerating the secondary development, pilot-scale refinement, and industrialization of the center’s research outcomes.

Soochow University–ZULIZ Collaborative Innovation Center for the Application of Multifunctional Nanomaterials in Senior Footwear and Apparel

Founded in 2015, ZULIZ Senior Shoes has consistently adhered to a “user-centric” approach and is dedicated to creating professional footwear for seniors. Regarding this collaboration, the company’s founder stated that ZULIZ Senior Care Industry Development Co., Ltd. has always prioritized basic research. In the future, the company will increase its investment in R&D and expand its strategic cooperation with Soochow University from specific projects to a broader scope, enhancing the brand’s impact and making greater contributions to society.

Jiang Jingdong, Secretary of the Party Committee for Science and Technology at Soochow University, acknowledged the contributions made by the School of Textile and Apparel Engineering in the transformation of scientific and technological achievements. He emphasized the importance of organized scientific research, a firm commitment to integrating industry and market needs, and strengthening the effectiveness of university-enterprise collaboration through the establishment of innovation consortia, thereby achieving the ultimate goal of using scientific and technological innovation to serve the public.

This collaboration with Soochow University marks the first time ZULIZ Senior Shoes has partnered with a university to launch a university-enterprise co-creation model. This initiative will undoubtedly enhance the professionalism of ZULIZ’s product line. Furthermore, the company hopes this partnership will further advance and elevate the professionalism and technological sophistication of China’s domestic products.

Joining Forces: ZULIZ Senior Shoes Creates More Professional Footwear Through Multiple Approaches

As a leader in the senior footwear industry, ZULIZ has consistently focused on the senior products sector since its inception, dedicated to meeting the spiritual and material needs of the elderly and enabling China’s seniors to better enjoy a healthy, joyful, and comfortable new experience. In 2022, ZULIZ officially announced Ms. Lang Ping as the brand’s new ambassador, hoping to use her positive influence to inspire the elderly population. Together, the two parties advocate for an active and healthy lifestyle, joining forces to provide the “silver-haired generation” with higher-quality product options. That same year, ZULIZ officially partnered with Chen Guoxue, China’s foremost authority on shoe lasts and a National First-Class Footwear Designer. As ZULIZ’s Chief Last Designer, Chen will provide support for the brand’s last design, development, and production, and both parties will work together to create more specialized senior footwear for the elderly in China. This year, ZULIZ Senior Shoes established a university-industry partnership with the century-old institution Soochow University. By applying nanomaterials to the development of senior footwear and apparel, the collaboration embodies “industry-academia-research-application” collaborative innovation, leveraging technological advancements to enhance the professionalism and comfort of their products.

China's “Iron Hammer” Partners with a Specialist in Senior Footwear

A number of initiatives demonstrate that, against the backdrop of the silver economy, ZULIZ Senior Shoes has seized the opportunity to build its business on high-quality products and has employed various strategies to develop more specialized senior footwear as a way to give back to the market and consumers. It is reported that ZULIZ Senior Shoes has received a market position statement from the authoritative research firm Euromonitor, declaring it “the national leader in senior shoe sales for two consecutive years (2020–2021).” This demonstrates that the market and consumers have responded positively to ZULIZ’s high-quality products, and it is believed that ZULIZ Senior Shoes will gain even greater market recognition in the future.