A HARDEN turf consultancy hopes to be pitch perfect after signing a deal with a US university.

STRI Group, based at the St Ives estate, has joined forces with a leading provider of turf-grass education, Auburn University, to start research and development programmes throughout the US sports surface market.

The agreement with the world-renowned Alabama university will focus primarily on expanding the US soccer industry, and conducting surfaces research in other sports including golf, football, baseball and equestrian.

The collaboration aims to further enhance Auburn’s existing turf-grass and sports turf research facility, helping it become a centre of excellence for innovation and emerging technologies in sports turf. Auburn will showcase cutting-edge techniques and technologies for use at stadiums including grow-lights, water management and reinforced turf systems.

Lee Penrose, STRI group director, said: “We are thrilled to collaborate with such a forward-thinking and well-respected university.

“Together our organisations will create the leading sports turf facility in the US, demonstrating the latest in international thinking.”

Scott McElroy, professor in the college of agriculture’s crop, soil and environmental sciences department, said: “Working with STRI is a great opportunity to not only grow our research programme at Auburn, but to also greatly enhance the educational content, internship experiences and job opportunities for our students.”

Founded in 1929, STRI regularly works on sports surfaces for major events such as Wimbledon and the Open Golf, along with the last two football World Cups and Olympic Games.

With its collaboration with Auburn, STRI secures a permanent presence on four continents, with further significant investments being made at its facilities in Australia, the UK and Qatar.

Over the past six years, STRI has developed the new research operations in Australia and Qatar and launched design and consultancy hubs in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.

The US deal is the latest in STRI’s global expansion. Last year it announced it will help develop thousands of soccer pitches in China.

The STRI Group signed a memorandum of understanding with Beijing iRENA Group and Shanghai KeHua Sports Promotional Co to improve football pitches across China.