BRISTOL, England, April 16 A center designed to spur British development and application of advanced composites and intelligent structures has opened at the University of Bristol.The university said its Advanced Composites Center for Innovation and Science will bring together research in composite materials, which are important for British engineering companies to maintain international competitiveness in such fields as aircraft manufacturing and the creation of alternative energy technologies such as wind power.The university said the United Kingdom's supply of composite materials is worth $3 billion annually.Officials said the new center combines leading-edge scientific research with strong industrial collaboration from such companies as Airbus, Rolls-Royce and Smiths Aerospace.Professor Michael Wisnom, the center's director, said, "ACCIS will catalyze the integration and application of the university's existing research capability, forming a major international center, raising the profile of advanced composites and attracting the brightest people." Copyright 2007 by UPI
