National Composites Center (NCC) world-leading innovation organisation that transforms cutting edge research and technology into industrial impact, recently announced plans to establish the UK s first Large Structures Innovation Centre (LSIC) a new, open-access facility that will enable industry to design, develop and de-risk the next generation of large structures at full industrial scale.

Operated by NCC part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult  the LSIC fills a long-standing gap in the UK s innovation landscape - providing companies working with large, complex components the space, equipment and specialist engineering expertise to accelerate development with confidence.

The LSIC sits under the National Composites Centre, making composites the core of its mandate. The facility is designed to tackle the engineering challenges associated with manufacturing large, high-precision composite structures such as wind turbine blades, aircraft wings, ship components, and advanced defence systems.

Its focus on automation, high-rate deposition, modular tooling, and sustainability directly supports the next wave of composite innovation. By enabling industry to build larger, lighter, and stronger structures, LSIC reinforces the UK s strategic push toward advanced composite materials across critical sectors.

Building on over 15 years of NCC innovation leadership, the Centre will combine integrated design and full-scale demonstration to support sectors including wind, construction and maritime.

It will give industry access to the capabilities needed to advance technology innovation across the entire engineering life cycle from concept to end-of-life helping businesses of all sizes industrialise new products faster and achieve their growth ambitions.

The LSIC will play a vital role in anchoring technology and product leadership in the UK.

By accelerating the development and industrialisation of advanced large-scale structures, it will help secure high-value manufacturing and strengthen UK supply chains. It will also build sovereign capability - reducing reliance on overseas technologies and positioning the UK to lead in global innovation.

Early Focus: Advancing Next-Generation Blade Technology

The LSIC s first focus will be wind  where global decarbonisation goals and the drive to reduce energy costs are accelerating demand for larger more powerful turbine blades. 

The LSIC will provide an open-access facility where industry can validate and de-risk new processes, materials, and automation strategies under real-world conditions and at full scale - offline from live production. 

By bridging the gap between laboratory and factory, the LSIC will offer access to advanced automation, improved process control, and facilities capable of handling full-scale blades, accelerating the development of the next generation of high-performance wind systems.

Advanced turbine technologies is a major opportunity identified in the Offshore Wind Industrial Growth Plan and critical to the UK s clean energy transition.

Richard Oldfield, Chief Executive, NCC, said:

The LSIC is about creating connected pathways that turn world-class research into industrial reality. The UK has exceptional research and talent but has lacked the infrastructure to deliver large-scale innovation. The LSIC changes that, providing the physical and digital capabilities to build the next generation of high-performance large structures right here in the UK

Work to establish the LSIC is now underway, with the first innovation projects due to begin in 2026. NCC will announce details on collaboration partners in due course.

Source - NCC