The UK government is to invest GBP 22m (EUR 24m) in advancing the development of composite materials. The investment, announced by UK business secretary Lord Mandelson, includes GBP 16m for the establishment of a “national composites centre” in Bristol and a GBP 5m prize for developing new composites manufacturing techniques, to be awarded through the UK technology strategy board’s new "grand challenge" competition, launched at the same time as the investment was announced. GBP 1m will also be made available to provide up-front funding for the challenge bids. Mandelson used a visit to Williams Formula One’s Oxfordshire site to launch the investment and publish the government’s new composite strategy.

The "UK composite strategy", published by the UK department of business innovation and skills (BIS), estimates that the composites market is currently worth about GBP 1 bn to the British economy. The UK offshore composite wind turbine blade and aerospace wing market alone could be worth GBP 22 bn by 2020.

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said: “Today’s new strategy will help us to exploit the potential of composite materials which could help us lower carbon emissions, make cost savings by making things which last longer and boost our position globally, making the UK the place to produce and develop composites.”

The new composites strategy explains how the government plans to support British firms involved in manufacturing, utilising and exporting composites and composite technology, with the aim of maintaining the UK’s global lead in this growth field. Until now activity has been too sector specific, which has limited the development of a cohesive composites industry and the transfer of technology to the manufacture of other products in other sectors, which could be built using composites, it concludes.

e-Service:
"The UK composites strategy" as a PDF document (1.43 MB)