Develops supporting structures to protect one (8)
I believe the answer is:
pioneers
'develops' is the definition.
(to pioneer something is to invent or develop it)
'supporting structures to protect one' is the wordplay.
'supporting structures' becomes 'piers'.
'to protect' is an insertion indicator.
'piers' enclosing 'one' is 'PIONEERS'.
(Other definitions for pioneers that I've seen before include "First settlers in a new territory" , "Ground-breakers, trail-blazers" , "Innovators" , "They open up new territories" .)