#240 ICS 2026: Gemma Hardy of Fluency (UK) on Innovation, Community & the Future of Composites

The composites industry does not lack innovation. What it often
lacks is connection.

Now Live: Composites Lounge Newsletter No.
34

That is exactly why the latest edition of the Composites Lounge
Newsletter focuses on one of the industry's most important
community-driven initiatives: the International
Composites Summit (ICS) and the growing ecosystem being
built around it. ICS 2026 returns to The Drum
Wembley, London, on 1–2 December 2026, continuing its
mission to bring together innovators, manufacturers, OEMs,
researchers, investors, and technology providers from across the
global composites value chain.

This issue explores why innovation and community building go hand
in hand, revisits the success of ICS 2025.

The newsletter also follows the journey of the expanding ICS
Innovation Hub network, which now connects companies across some
of the most important composites marketplaces worldwide:

JEC World — Paris, France (done in March 2026 already)
Next CAMX - The Composites and Advanced Materials
Expo — Atlanta, USA
Advanced Engineering UK — Birmingham, United
Kingdom
International Composites Summit — Wembley,
London, United Kingdom

Together, these Innovation Hub stops are helping innovative
companies gain visibility, accelerate networking, and build
international business relationships without the complexity of
traditional exhibiting models.

A special appreciation goes to PRF Composite
Materials, also a valued Composites Lounge Premium
Member and the Exclusive Forum Headline Sponsor of ICS 2026. PRF
has spent decades supporting technical excellence, innovation,
skills development, knowledge sharing, and community building
throughout the composites industry. Their commitment to
collaboration, education, and industry progression makes them a
natural partner for an event that is fundamentally built around
bringing people together to exchange ideas and create
opportunities.

The latest newsletter is packed with:
Video interviews
️ Podcast episodes
YouTube content
Useful links and resources
Executive insights from industry leaders

Whether you are an innovator, startup, researcher, OEM, supplier,
investor, or simply passionate about the future of composites,
this issue provides plenty of ideas, inspiration, and
opportunities to get involved.

Because at the end of the day, the most important sound at any
composites event is not the machine.

It is the conversation.

And the ICS community is growing.

Read the latest Composites Lounge Newsletter now.
Interested in exhibiting, sponsoring, speaking, joining a panel,
or booking an Innovation Hub pod? The conversation starts
here.

cc: Gemma Hardy, Katie Homes,
Colin Leatham-Locke
Hannah Khusainova, Marcy
Offner

YouTube Episode: https://youtu.be/JUGPP2M8sbc