When the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) published its Market Spotlight: Growing UK Composite Capability in March 2025, it highlighted a transformational opportunity for the UK: the potential to grow its aerospace composites market share more than sixfold by 2050.
The use of composites in aerospace has increased significantly, rising from just 6% of the Boeing 747’s weight to more than 50% in modern aircraft such as the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787. This trend is continuing leading to a doubling of the global composites market from $16bn in 2022 to $34bn by 2032, even before a new commercial aircraft enters into service.
Composites are fundamental to delivering the next generation of ultra-efficient, and in future zero-carbon emissions aircraft, which will feature predominantly carbon composite wings and make broad use of composites across multiple major structures, propulsion and system components. Countries with the competitive capability to deliver large-scale composite structures at rate, cost and quality will win more of the future market share.
The UK opportunity to do so is credible when underpinned by the country’s research excellence, but it needs an integrated national resilient capability to come to fruition. Moreover, cementing the UK’s technology advantage requires coordinated action to ensure that key technologies reach TRL6 by 2030, enabling their exploitation on the next generation of aircraft and securing the competitiveness of the UK ecosystem within global aerospace supply chains.
Following the publication of the Market Spotlight, the ATI established the Composites Working Group to shape the next phase of capability development and define a national UK aerospace composites technology strategy. Convened in May 2025, the group met monthly until November 2025 and brought together specialists and senior representatives from across the aerospace industry and ecosystem.
The working group was supported by 25 organisations, providing a balanced cross-section of the sector, including large enterprises, SMEs, research institutions, industry bodies and cross-sector organisations. This breadth of participation enabled open and constructive dialogue, as well as the sharing of best practices, leading to a detailed mapping of current capabilities and future requirements.
Insights from the Composites Working Group have also informed the current refresh of UK technology strategy, scheduled for publication in May 2026. A detailed Composites Strategy will follow shortly thereafter, providing the depth of context needed to bring the UK ecosystem together to address strategic gaps and the ATI will support its delivery by fostering collaborations capable of strengthening the UK’s long-term global competitiveness.
This work sits alongside the ATI Programme where highly collaborative projects are advancing UK capability in composites, including through the SME Programme.
Last week, I spent three days at JEC World 2026 in Paris, where the global composites community came together to showcase the latest innovations and explore emerging industry needs. UK organisations, including several to have received ATI Programme funding, were prominently represented throughout the exhibition. From iCOMAT announcing new capabilities, to the advanced automated deposition technologies showcased at the Loop Technology booth, or the innovative resin chemistries presented by SHD Composite Materials, the UK’s composite innovation ecosystem was clearly visible throughout the exhibition. These examples, among many others, reflect a sector that is not only pushing technological boundaries but also demonstrating a confident and highly competitive presence on the global stage.
The event also provided a valuable opportunity to engage with international peers and discuss how the UK can continue to play a pivotal role in the future of composites for aerospace and adjacent sectors. These conversations were both stimulating and highly productive, reinforcing the importance of global collaboration in driving competitive advantage and accelerating technology adoption.
Cover image: UK composites community meet at British Embassy in Paris at event organised by Department for Business and Trade and Composites UK during JEC world 2026.
