  A symplectic no-core shell model (Sp-NCSM) is constructed with the goal of
extending the {\it ab-initio} NCSM to include strongly deformed
higher-oscillator-shell configurations and to reach heavier nuclei that cannot
be studied currently because the spaces encountered are too large to handle,
even with the best of modern-day computers. This goal is achieved by
integrating two powerful concepts: the {\it ab-initio} NCSM with that of the
$\mathrm{Sp}(3,\mathbb{R})\supset\mathrm{SU}(3)$ group-theoretical approach.
The NCSM uses modern realistic nuclear interactions in model spaces that
consists of many-body configurations up to a given number of $\hbar\Omega$
excitations together with modern high-performance parallel computing
techniques. The symplectic theory extends this picture by recognizing that when
deformed configurations dominate, which they often do, the model space can be
better selected so less relevant low-lying $\hbar\Omega$ configurations yield
to more relevant high-lying $\hbar\Omega$ configurations, ones that respect a
near symplectic symmetry found in the Hamiltonian. Results from an application
of the Sp-NCSM to light nuclei are compared with those for the NCSM and with
experiment.
