Bristol is at the forefront of composites development, with the partnership between the Bristol Composites Institute (BCI) and the National Composites Centre (NCC) central to this. Spanning the technology readiness levels (TRLs), BCI and the NCC combine academic excellence, cutting-edge research and industry-focused innovation to drive advancements in the field.

Join the two organisations for their annual conference in Bristol to see the latest work in composites, focusing on the use of digital and AI technologies, material advances, and skills and workforce development.

08:45 Registration

09:15 Welcome

09:30 Session 1 - Machine Learning / AI with Q&A:
Artificial Intelligence is enabling our researchers to conduct more powerful research in less time and with less cost. But what, specifically, are the opportunities that are opening up in the field of composites? This session will reveal how we are already using AI in research and the future trends that will impact industry.
Speakers:
- Amit Visrolia (Chief of Digital Engineering, NCC)
- Emma Rose (Centre Manager, Bristol Centre of Supercomputing, University of Bristol)
- Iryna Tretiak (Lecturer in Composites Manufacture, BCI)
- Tim Newman (Data Science Specialist, NCC)
- Bassam Elsaied (Senior Lecturer, BCI)

10:30 Break

11:00 Session 2 - Materials with Q&A:
As industry looks for more sustainable materials, or ones that can operate in extreme environments, we’re seeing an increasing interest in materials design and development. This session will explore these topics and focus on opportunities for future innovations.
Speakers:
- Steven Eichhorn (Materials, Science and Engineering, BCI)
- Tim Young (Head of Sustainability, NCC)
- Onajite Abafe Diejomaoh (Research Associate, BCI)
- Jenny Banks ( Postgraduate student in the Industrial Doctorate Centre in Composites Manufacture, NCC)
- Callum Branfoot (Research Engineer, Materials Science, NCC)

12:00 Lunch and networking

13:30 Session 3 - Skills with Q&A:
For the UK to continue playing a leading role in high-value engineering, a pipeline of skilled engineers is essential. This requires us to develop future leaders who understand composite materials and their applications, whether through apprenticeships, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and in-work training.
Speakers:
- Micaela Owen (Head of Skills and Workforce Transformation, NCC)
- Janice Barton (Director of CDT in Innovation for Sustainable Composites Engineering, BCI)
- Laura Pickard (Senior Research Associate, BCI)
- Callum Heath (Manufacturing Manager, NCC)
- Ben Chappell (Postgraduate student in the Industrial Doctorate Centre in Composites Manufacture, NCC)

14:30 Break

15:00 Panel session and discussion
Panellists:
- Tim Young (Panel chair, Head of Sustainability, NCC)
- Allan Poulsen (Head of Materials and Sustainable Scaling, Vestas)
- Jacqueline Castle (Chief Technology Officer, ATI and UoB Aegis Professor of Aerospace Technologies)
- Craig Carr (Technology Director Integrated Composite Structures, GKN)
- David Bailey (CEO, CompositesUK)
- Janice Barton (Professor of Experimental Mechanics, BCI)
- Nick Warrior (Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Nottingham)
- Andy Smith (R&D Director, Carbon ThreeSixty)

16:00 Close of conference

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Please note parking is not available at this venue. We encourage you to take public transport where possible, however the closest car park is Trenchard Street Car Park (What3words: open.horns.lined).

Privacy notice: Your name, email address and company/organisation may be shared with the National Composites Centre for the purpose of planning next year's event. Your name and company/organisation may also be shared with the other attendees as part of a delegate list during the conference, no other information will be shared. If you would prefer not to share your information with the National Composites Centre and/or other attendees please email composites-institute@bristol.ac.uk to inform us.