About us
Key contacts
General enquiries
composites-institute@bristol.ac.uk
CDT in Innovation for Sustainable Composites Engineering
CDT in Composites Science, Engineering and Manufacturing
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
We aim to ensure all staff and students have an enjoyable and fulfilling working environment in BCI.
Black Academia
At the Bristol Composites Institute we explore the manufacture, structural design and material properties of composites to address the overreaching grand challenges of sustainability and Net-Zero. The Institute is Co-Directed by Professors Ole Thomsen and Stephen Hallett and has more than 240 staff and students, with an active grant portfolio of c. £25M.
BCI benefits from well-established major industry partnerships to support and exploit its research across sectors. The Institute is responsive to industry and engages with over 40 companies and SMEs as well as producing its own innovative spin-outs. Fundamental research is taken to higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) in close collaboration with the National Composites Centre (NCC) - an independently operated subsidiary of the University of Bristol.
Examples of successful collaborations include the long-standing Composites University Technology Centre, supported by Rolls Royce, and a key role in delivering pioneering research into advanced materials as part of the national Defence Materials Centre of Excellence (DMEx), working with DSTL and the Henry Royce Institute.
The Institute delivers world class training and education programmes in composites, including an internationally leading MSc course and doctoral training (PhD and EngD).
Why composites?
Composite materials are formed when two or more constituents combine to create an advanced lightweight material with significantly improved properties. These materials will play a crucial role in meeting the UK’s net zero commitments.