CoSTAR Showcase Labs: Createch infrastructure and commercialisation (Grant)

This funding opportunity is open to organisations with standard eligibility. Check if your organisation is eligible. Organisations, such as businesses or third sector organisations, that are not eligible to receive a direct grant may participate and receive funding as collaborators or partners.

Who is eligible to apply

The application must be led by a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) eligible organisation at the head of partnerships and/or consortia including at least:

• one commercial or industry co-location partner

• one local or combined authority or equivalent economic development body or enterprise agency

You must also be able to demonstrate proof of wider industry support and collaboration locally that will deliver significant co-investment from the private, public or third sectors.

AHRC will award a maximum of four grants: up to two Showcase Labs and two Satellite Labs.

Lead bidders may submit for both a Showcase Lab and a Satellite Lab.

Other organisations may partner with a maximum of four bids across both Showcase and Satellite Labs.

Lead bidders that already hold grants under the CoSTAR programme lots one, two and three can apply to this funding opportunity. However, the final funding decision will take portfolio balance into account, including geographic spread of both new labs and the original CoSTAR labs.

Individual eligibility

To lead an application for this funding opportunity, you must:

• be a resident in the UK

• be employed at, or have a formal affiliation with an organisation eligible to receive UKRI funding under standard eligibility criteria (see above)

• have a doctorate or demonstrate equivalent professional experience or training

• have an outstanding track record of strategic planning and delivery of major capital or R&D and innovation programmes for the screen and performance sectors

• have or be able to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders from the creative research community, screen (film, TV, games) and performance sectors government and the wider creative industries

• be engaged in leading-edge research and innovation of professorial or equivalent standing applicable to the creative industries

• demonstrate a level of skills, knowledge and experience appropriate to the nature of the project

You should not apply if your organisation has limited knowledge or does not have expertise in R&D and innovation in the screen and performance industries and in technology related to the creative industries.

For further information on eligibility see AHRC’s research funding guide.

Who is not eligible to apply

This funding opportunity is concerned with the UK context only. International collaborations are not eligible under this scheme.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all funding applicants. We encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers.

We support people to work in a way that suits their personal circumstances. This includes:

• career breaks

• support for people with caring responsibilities

• flexible working

• alternative working patterns

UKRI can offer disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders during the application and assessment process.

Demand management

Demand management is not being applied to this funding opportunity.

Aim

This funding opportunity is an expansion of AHRC’s CoSTAR programme, AHRC’s flagship national network of creative research infrastructure.

The expansion is funded from DCMS’s Createch Futures initiative, providing £25 million in additional investment into national R&D facilities in order to drive innovation, creativity, and research commercialisation in the UK’s screen and performance industries. It forms part of and adds significant value to the existing network by enabling greater network cohesion, regional access, clearer commercial pathways and alignment with emerging future technologies, particularly generative AI.

It will deliver up to two Showcase Labs and up to two Satellite Labs, a Virtual Compute Lab and additional Access Programmes, primarily funding equipment, technology, staff, utilities and an access programme to support Small Medium Enterprise utilisation.

This infrastructure will lead to:

• reduced barriers to creative businesses’ technology adoption

• broader access for creative businesses to specialist R&D infrastructure at lower cost

• faster progression from R&D to commercialisation through support and credible demonstration environments

• accelerated development and commercial uptake of high-growth creative technologies, including across a wider range of UK regions

Scope

This funding opportunity represents Lot one of Createch Futures funding, providing up to £12 million over three years to deliver the Showcase and Satellite Labs.

This funding opportunity page covers criteria for Showcase Labs only.

For more information on the CoSTAR Network, go to the ‘Additional information’ section.

Successful consortia will set out a programme that will:

• design and fit out of state-of-the art creative R&D facilities including relevant technology infrastructure. These facilities may constitute a refurbishment or extension of an existing facility and must be co-sited with a screen production facility, studio or performance company

• focus on near market research and innovation (TRLs six to nine) and serve an identified geographic or sectoral community act as a hub to drive investment in and adoption of new creative technologies, companies, experiences, applications and products (Showcase Labs only)

• collaborate with CoSTAR National Lab and the rest of the network to identify opportunities and needs for coordinated R&D programmes and disseminate research outcomes

• contribute to demonstrator or pilot programmes with National Lab

• provide access to knowledge exchange, commercialisation and enterprise functions for CoSTAR Network partners

• manage the R&D laboratory facilities, including staff resourcing for a period of three years

• develop and implement a model to secure external co-investment for their lab to ensure long-term financial sustainability

Showcase Labs and their consortia should:

• have sufficient capability to act as a lab contributing to the research and innovation activity and impact of the CoSTAR Network

• be formed from a demonstrable track record of createch research and innovation activity

• be capable and willing to conform to technical standards adopted by the CoSTAR network and play a role in the CoSTAR Technology Roadmap

• act as a point of presence providing access to the CoSTAR National Infrastructure including support for companies engaging with the network

• have technical expertise and staff resource sufficient to support these objectives

• have technologies sufficient to demonstrate research and innovation results including new content outputs, production processes and workflows and novel services

• be able to perform as a central presentation environment for industry and investment events from small groups to conferences act as a performance or audience venue to demonstrate immersive experience

• be operated by a body or partnership with clear ability to connect businesses with investors (UK creative, seed and Venture Capital, UK and international technology, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) working with industry or government bodies and a track record in delivering creative technology demonstration, conferences and events

Duration

The duration of this award is three years from April 2027.

Projects must start by 31 May 2027.

Funding available

The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £4 million for Showcase Labs, excluding pledged third party match funding from commercial, not for profit and local government partners. This third party match funding must be equal to a minimum of 50% of the FEC requested in your application.

AHRC will fund 80% of the FEC subject to the above exclusions.

Third party match funding (pledged coinvestment)

Third party match funding above the minimum figures indicated must be included in your response along with supporting commitment from providers of this funding. However, as the terminology suggests, these are the minimum figures that must be included.

Evidence from CoSTAR and the Creative Industries Clusters Programme (CICP) shows that place-based research, development and innovation programmes can generate co-investment at a multiple of AHRC or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) grants (in CICP’s case, more than £3 co-investment for every £1 of UKRI grant), from a variety of sources including industry, public partners and further R&D funding.

We therefore anticipate that bidders will include third party Match funding significantly above these minimum levels, alongside the necessary evidence and commitment from partners. Levels of projected co-investment and commitments will form part of the assessment of bids as they are essential to the sustainability and diversification of the infrastructure

We encourage you to follow the principles of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers and the Technician Commitment.

Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I)

UKRI is committed in ensuring that effective international collaboration in research and innovation takes place with integrity and within strong ethical frameworks. Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) is a UKRI work programme designed to help protect all those working in our thriving and collaborative international sector by enabling partnerships to be as open as possible, and as secure as necessary. Our TR&I Principles set out UKRI’s expectations of organisations funded by UKRI in relation to due diligence for international collaboration.

As such, applicants for UKRI funding may be asked to demonstrate how their proposed projects will comply with our approach and expectation towards TR&I, identifying potential risks and the relevant controls you will put in place to help proportionately reduce these risks.

See further guidance and information about TR&I, including where applicants can find additional support.

Assessment process

We will assess your application using the following process.

Assessment panel

We will invite experts to assess the quality of your application and rank it alongside other applications after which the panel will make a funding recommendation.

AHRC will make the final funding decision and reserves the right to use assessment panel recommendations to create a balanced portfolio of funded applications that encompass a range of geographies and research themes.

Shortlisting

Successful applications at assessment panel will be invited to interview.

Interview

An expert interview panel will conduct interviews with applicants after which the panel will make a funding recommendation.

We expect interviews to be held on week commencing 25 January 2027

AHRC will make the final funding decision.

For more information on how we prioritise applications for funding please visit How we make decisions.

If your application was shortlisted for discussion at assessment panel stage, we will give feedback with the outcome of your application.

Principles of assessment

We support the San Francisco declaration on research assessment and recognise the relationship between research assessment and research integrity.

Find out about the UKRI principles of assessment and decision making.

Using generative artificial intelligence (AI) in expert review

Generative AI may be used only for the purpose of language refinement during application assessment. When using generative AI to refine the language of a review, expert reviewers and panellists must ensure that:

• no part of the application being assessed is entered into a generative AI tool

• no personal information from the application is disclosed

• generative AI is not tasked with understanding, summarising or evaluating the application’s content

Expert reviewers and panellists must also:

• comply with relevant intellectual property and data protection legislation

• not take into account or speculate within their assessment whether generative AI has been used to develop the application

For more detail see our policy on the use of generative AI.

Sharing data with co-funders

We will need to share the application (including any personal information that it contains) with DCMS so that they can participate in the assessment process.

See more information on how DCMS uses personal information.

We reserve the right to modify the assessment process as needed.

Assessment areas

Reviewers will score your application against the following criteria.

Strategic fit, suitability to host and vision (30% weighting)

Vision and Approach, Applicant and team capability to deliver; Resources and cost justification:

• the collective current capability of your consortium or partnership

• technical and sector R&D and innovation expertise

• expertise in connecting businesses with investors and in delivering creative technology demonstration, conferences and events

• the extent to which your proposed programme and vision diversifies and adds value to the existing CoSTAR infrastructure and advances the stated objectives of the Network

• strength of your proposal in delivering the required capabilities

• evidence of industry support and demand for services

• ability of your partnership to contribute to the sustainability of the infrastructure beyond the grant period through ongoing co-investment

Deliverability and value for money (25% weighting)

Vision and Approach, Resources and cost justification, IP management and communication:

• achievability of proposed timescales and workstreams achievable within the proposed budget. Will they deliver on stated objectives?

• identification and mitigation of critical risks

• quality of delivery plan and management structure across the partners

• amount of initial co-investment committed by the partners

• quality and robustness of plan for monitoring, measuring and evaluating progress

• credibility, affordability and value for money

Contribution to UK creative innovation (25% weighting)

Vision and Approach, Applicant and team capability to deliver:

• what will be the long-term impact of funding your proposal locally or nationally?

• how well will your proposed programme boost productivity, skills and the formation and growth of firms and the commercialisation of intellectual property?

• does your proposal include plans to grow private sector investment?

• will it build on or enable the development of local and regional excellence in creativity and innovation?

Contribution to environmental sustainability (10% weighting)

Sustainability:

• how does your proposal embed principles of environmental sustainability?

• how does you proposed programme contribute to the decarbonisation of the screen and performance sectors or the wider creative industries?

• will it contribute to UKRI’s commitment to carbon-neutrality across all research undertakings by 2040?

Contribution to equality, diversity and inclusion in the sector (10% weighting)

Vision and Approach, Applicant and team capability to deliver; Ethics and responsible research and innovation:

• how will your proposed programme improve diversity within the screen and performance sectors, the wider creative industries or the creative technology sector?

• how will you drive equality, diversity and inclusion within the facilities you host and amongst the user group of researchers and companies?

In constructing the portfolio, the panel will consider a range of factors across both the existing Network and new projects funded as part of this funding opportunity. These will include, but not restricted to:

• complementarity across different components of the portfolio

• future innovation capability

• levels of co-investment committed

• geographic spread,

• providing a robust national infrastructure, ensuring that the infrastructure underpins future growth across film, TV, games and performance sectors.

Find details of assessment questions and criteria under the ‘Application questions’ heading in the ‘How to apply’ section.

Webinar for potential applicants

We will hold a webinar on 15 September 2026.

We shall also be running application development surgeries aimed primarily at lead applicants and institutions that have not previously received large infrastructure grants from AHRC. Details of registration for these events will be available on this page in due course.

Click here to start an application on the UKRI Funding Service: 

https://funding-service.ukri.org/OPP1224/apply/1255

We are running this funding opportunity on the new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service so please ensure that your organisation is registered. You cannot apply on the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system.

The project lead is responsible for completing the application process on the Funding Service, but we expect all team members and project partners to contribute to the application.

Only the lead research organisation can submit an application to UKRI.

To apply

Select ‘Start application’ near the beginning of this Funding finder page.

1. Confirm you are the project lead.

2. Sign in or create a Funding Service account. To create an account, select your organisation, verify your email address, and set a password.

3. Answer questions directly in the text boxes. You can save your answers and come back to complete them or work offline and return to copy and paste your answers. If we need you to upload a document, follow the upload instructions in the Funding Service. All questions and assessment criteria are listed in the How to apply section on this Funding finder page.

4. Allow enough time to check your application in ‘read-only’ view before sending to your research office.

5. Send the completed application to your research office for checking. They will return it to you if it needs editing.

6. Your research office will submit the completed and checked application to UKRI.

Please be aware that research office and finance teams undertake checks on hosting arrangements and financial eligibility. The ultimate responsibility for ensuring compliance with all opportunity requirements lies with the applicant.

Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant.

When including images, you must:

• provide a descriptive caption or legend for each image immediately underneath it in the text box (this must be outside the image and counts towards your word limit)

• insert each new image on a new line

• use files smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format

Images should only be used to convey important visual information that cannot easily be put into words. The following are not permitted, and your application will be rejected if you include:

• sentences or paragraphs of text

• tables

• excessive quantities of images

A few words are permitted where the image would lack clarity without the contextual words, such as a diagram, where text labels are required for an axis or graph column.

For more guidance on the Funding Service, see:

• how applicants use the Funding Service

• how research offices use the Funding Service

• how reviewers use the Funding Service

References

References should be included within the word count of the appropriate question section. You should use your discretion when including references and prioritise those most pertinent to the application.

Hyperlinks can be used in reference information. When including references, you should consider how your references will be viewed and used by the assessors, ensuring that:

• references are easily identifiable by the assessors

• references are formatted as appropriate to your research

• persistent identifiers are used where possible

General use of hyperlinks

Applications should be self-contained. You should only use hyperlinks to link directly to reference information. You must not include links to web resources to extend your application. Assessors are not required to access links to conduct assessment or recommend a funding decision.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Use of generative AI tools to prepare funding applications is permitted, however, caution should be applied.

For more information see our policy on the use of generative AI in application and assessment.

Deadline

AHRC must receive your application by 29 October 2026 at 4:00pm UK time.

You will not be able to apply after this time.

Make sure you are aware of and follow any internal institutional deadlines.

Following the submission of your application to this funding opportunity, your application cannot be changed, and submitted applications will not be amended. If your application does not follow the guidance, it may be rejected.

Personal data

Processing personal data

AHRC, as part of UKRI, will need to collect some personal information to manage your Funding Service account and the registration of your funding applications.

We will handle personal data in line with UK data protection legislation and manage it securely. For more information, including how to exercise your rights, read our privacy notice.

AHRC, as part of UKRI, will need to share the application and any personal information that it contains with DCMS so that they can participate in the assessment process. See more information on how DCMS uses personal information.

Sensitive information

If you or a core team member need to tell us something you wish to remain confidential, email enquiries@ahrc.ukri.org

Include in the subject line: [the funding opportunity title; sensitive information; your Funding Service application number].

Typical examples of confidential information include:

• individual is unavailable until a certain date (for example due to parental leave)

• declaration of interest

• additional information about eligibility to apply that would not be appropriately shared in the ‘Applicant and team capability’ section

• conflict of interest for UKRI to consider in reviewer or panel participant selection

• the application is an invited resubmission

For information about how UKRI handles personal data, read UKRI’s privacy notice.

Institutional matched funding

There is no requirement for matched funding from the institutions hosting the project lead, project co-leads or other staff employed on the application, beyond the standard 20% FEC. Expert reviewers and panels assessing UKRI funding applications must not consider levels of institutional matched funding as a factor on which to base recommendations. Direct and in-kind contributions from third party project partners are encouraged.

This policy does not remove the need for support from host organisations who must provide the necessary research environment and infrastructure for award-specific activities funded by UKRI. For example, research facilities, training and development of staff.

Publication of outcomes

AHRC, as part of UKRI, will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity via UKRI’s news page in February 2027.

If your application is successful, we will publish some personal information on the UKRI Gateway to Research.

Summary

Word limit: 550

In plain English, provide a summary we can use to identify the most suitable experts to assess your application.

We usually make this summary publicly available on external-facing websites, therefore do not include any confidential or sensitive information. Make it suitable for a variety of readers, for example:

• opinion-formers

• policymakers

• the public

• the wider research community

Guidance for writing a summary

Clearly describe your proposed work in terms of:

• context

• the challenge the project addresses

• aims and objectives

• potential applications and benefits

Core team

List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following:

• project lead (PL)

• project co-lead (UK) (PcL)

• specialist

• professional enabling staff

• research and innovation associate

• technician

Only list one individual as project lead.

UKRI has introduced a new addition to the ‘Specialist’ role type. Public contributors such as people with lived experience can now be added to an application.

Find out more about UKRI’s core team roles in funding applications.

Application questions

Vision

Word limit: 500

What are you hoping to achieve with the proposed infrastructure?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Explain how the proposed infrastructure will:

• be timely, given current trends and context

• meet the evidenced needs of clearly identified user groups

• have measurable impact

• enable high quality and important research

• meet the strategic aims of the funder or government

• offer training opportunities

• enhance, benefit and complement the existing landscape

• support innovation in research

• be of international importance (if applicable)

• identifies the potential local, regional or national impacts, both direct and indirect, and who the beneficiaries might be

• enhances the UK’s research and innovation capabilities through local, regional or both activity

References may be included within this section.

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

Approach

Word limit: 2,500

What are your plans to manage and deliver the proposed infrastructure?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

We expect you to show how your approach includes:

• a credible management plan including strategic and operational matters

• if applicable, a legal model

• details of governance

• feasibility of the project plan including a work plan, milestones, and deliverables in the form of a Gantt chart or similar

• identification of risks and appropriate mitigation in the form of key performance indicators (KPIs) to determine the delivery of outputs and outcomes

• plans for support and maintenance of the proposed infrastructure over the estimated life span, identifying future needs and potential upgrades

• details of access and usage particularly where a culture of infrastructure sharing may extend use to the research community

• training and development of staff and those who may interact with the infrastructure, including Research Technical Professionals

• a description of the working environment

• identification of how accessibility and inclusiveness have been incorporated into the design of the project

• plans for operational sustainability and legacy beyond the end of UKRI funding. These could include cost recovery models, securing additional funding, development or expansion after the initial period of funding

• has been designed so that it will generate local, regional and national impacts

References may be included within this section. You may also include a one page, max A3, equivalent Gantt chart and two pages (max) of site or planning charts, drawings, internal layouts or similar.

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

Applicant and team capability to deliver

Word limit: 1,650

Why are you the right individual or team to deliver and manage the proposed infrastructure?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Evidence of how you, and if relevant your team, have:

• the relevant experience (appropriate to career stage)

• the right balance of skills and expertise

• the appropriate leadership and management skills and your approach to develop others

• contributed to developing a positive research environment and wider community

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

The word limit for this section is 1,650 words: 1,150 words to be used for Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) modules (including references) and, if necessary, a further 500 words for Additions.

Use the R4RI format to showcase the range of relevant skills you, and if relevant, your team (project and project co-leads, researchers, technicians, specialists, partners and so on), have and how this will help to deliver the proposed work. You can include individuals’ specific achievements but only choose past contributions that best evidence their ability to deliver this work.

Complete this section using the R4RI module headings listed below. You should use each heading once and include a response for the whole team, see the UKRI guidance on R4RI. You should consider how to balance your answer, and emphasise where appropriate the key skills each team member brings:

• contributions to the generation of new ideas, tools, methodologies, or knowledge

• the development of others and maintenance of effective working relationships

• contributions to the wider research and innovation community

• contributions to broader research or innovation users and audiences and towards wider societal benefit

Additions

Provide any further details relevant to your application. This section is optional and can be up to 500 words. You should not use it to describe additional skills, experiences or outputs, but you can use it to describe any factors that provide context for the rest of your R4RI (for example, details of career breaks if you wish to disclose them).

You should complete this section as a narrative. Do not format it like a CV.

The roles in funding applications policy has descriptions of the different project roles.

Ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)

What are the ethical and RRI considerations, implications and issues relating to the proposed work? If you do not think that the proposed work raises any ethical or RRI issues, explain why.

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Demonstrate that you have identified and evaluated:

• the relevant ethical and RRI considerations, including both the research or topic area itself and the design and delivery of the project

• the wider implications of the proposed work, and how you will maximise the positive societal, environmental, and economic benefits arising from the project, whilst minimising unintended negative impacts, such as research misuse or accidental harm

• how you will manage these considerations throughout the lifecycle of the project

If you are collecting or using data you should identify:

• any legal and ethical considerations of collecting, releasing or storing the data (including consent, confidentiality, anonymisation, security and other ethical considerations and, in particular, strategies to not preclude further reuse of data)

• formal information standards that your proposed work will comply with

Additional sub-questions (to be answered only if appropriate) relating to research involving:

• animals

• human participants

• genetically modified organisms

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

Please refer to the UKRI position statement on funding ethical research and Responsible innovation for more information around our expectations on ethical and responsible research and innovation.

Animal involvement and “3Rs”

You must complete this section about how your proposed project will involve or impact animals.

If your project does not involve or impact animals, you must confirm this on the next page.

You may be asked about:

• what animals you are involving

• the severity of the procedures you are using

• where the procedures will take place

• welfare standards you aim to meet

• the relevance of your project to the development, validation or dissemination of the 3Rs

You may also need to download, complete, and upload at least one set of additional questions. You will be told how to do this towards the end of this section.

To complete this section and check whether your project is in the scope of the questions, refer to the UKRI policy for research and innovation involving animals.

What counts as an animal

UKRI policy relates to all animals in the Kingdom Animalia, including vertebrates and invertebrates.

Genetically modified organisms and biological risk

You must complete this section if your project will include genetically modified organisms or genetic technologies.

If you project does not involve genetically modified organisms or genetic technologies, you must confirm this on the next page.

You may be asked about:

• the type of organism your project will involve and the procedures your project will include

• the intended use of the organism or genetic technology

• the genetic, biological and environmental risks of your project

For more information, see UKRI’s guidance on genetic technologies.

Human participation in health-related research

You must complete this section about whether your project will include human participation.

If your project does not involve human participation, you must confirm this on the next page.

You may be asked about:

• what type of human participation your project includes

• the project design for human participation

• the phase of the clinical trial

• whether the project will be in an NHS setting, if so, how the project will be registered

• whether diversity and inclusion will be considered

For more information, see UKRI’s guidance for human participants in research.

Resources and cost justification

Word limit: 1,500

What will you need to procure to deliver the proposed equipment and how much will it cost?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Justify the application’s more substantial costs, in particular:

• project staff

• significant travel for field work or collaboration (but not regular travel between collaborating organisations or to conferences)

• any equipment that will cost more than £25,000

• any consumables beyond typical requirements, or that are required in exceptional quantities

• all facilities and infrastructure costs

• all resources that have been costed as ‘Exceptions’

• details of the equipment requested

• details of the service or maintenance service requested (if applicable)

• details of any cash contributions to the equipment from other sources reasons for choosing a quoted equipment (versus other quotes)

• reasons for requesting a particular specification of equipment or a particular manufacturer

You can request costs associated with reasonable adjustments where they increase as a direct result of working on the project. For further information see Disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders. Where a funding limit is imposed on the opportunity, requested costs for reasonable adjustments may exceed the maximum funding amount.

Assessors are not looking for detailed costs or a line-by-line breakdown of all project resources. Overall, they want you to demonstrate how the resources you anticipate needing for your proposed work:

• are comprehensive, appropriate, and justified

• represent the optimal use of resources to achieve the intended outcomes

• maximise potential outcomes and impacts

Sustainability

Word limit: 1,000

What steps have you taken to ensure the sustainability (economic, environmental and social) of your proposed asset?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

For the sustainability, explain how the proposed infrastructure:

• is as economically, environmentally and socially sustainable as possible

• delivers large scale societal, environmental and economic benefits

• will have its lifetime maximised, including stating what the expected lifetime is and, where relevant, how the asset will be sustainably decommissioned

Within the Sustainability section we also expect you to explain:

• how long-term operational and maintenance costs, including staffing, will be supported

• how the proposed asset will be integrated into an existing UKRI service, facility, equipment pool, or similar

• how the proposed asset is complementary to UKRI or host institute carbon reduction targets

• if relevant, how the proposed asset contributes to a broader approach to environmental sustainability, such an enhancing biodiversity or clean air, as well as reducing carbon emissions

• your plans for sustainability and legacy beyond the end of UKRI funding. These could include cost recovery models, securing additional funding, development or expansion after the initial period of funding

• how you have considered equality, diversity and inclusion, including equitable access, in the design and planned use of the asset to maximise benefit to the UK environmental sciences community

Intellectual property (IP) management and communication

Word limit: 1,000

What is your IP exploitation plan?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Evidence of your plans to:

• manage the outputs of the project, including any intellectual assets and intellectual property and its protection (if applicable)

• have freedom to operate

• protect the foreground IP or market position

• disseminate and communicate the outputs of your project in a timely manner without compromising future IP protection

• access potential future investments, if required

Discipline classification – primary

Word limit: 5

Please provide the primary research area of your proposal.

What the assessors are looking for in your response

You must select only one of these research disciplines.

This information will be used for the purposes of processing your proposal and in the selection of appropriate assessors.

• archaeology

• area studies

• classics

• cultural and museum studies

• dance

• design

• development studies

• drama and theatre studies

• education

• history

• human geography

• information and communication technologies

• languages and literature

• law and legal studies

• library and information studies

• linguistics

• media

• music

• philosophy

• political science and international studies

• social anthropology

• theology, divinity and religion

• visual arts

Discipline classification – secondary

Word limit: 50

Please describe, using keywords, the research area of your proposal and where relevant the approach, time, or geographical area.

What the assessors are looking for in your response

This will further help with the selection of appropriate assessors.

Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I)

Trusted Research and Innovation is the protection of the UK’s intellectual property, sensitive research, people, and infrastructure from potential theft, misuse, and exploitation.

Organisations receiving UKRI funding are obliged to act in line with UK government legislation. They are also expected to undertake appropriate due diligence assessments of organisations involved in research partnerships, collaboration agreements, and commercial contracts.

You will be asked about:

• which areas of the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act your project relates to

• who you intend to collaborate with and how

• if your project requires an export control licence

Your answers may affect the T&Cs of your funding agreement if you are successful. We may use your answers to determine that our current T&Cs are sufficient or if additional T&Cs are required.

Background

CoSTAR is a £75.6 million investment by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Infrastructure Fund, delivered by AHRC. It created the first national network of R&D labs built to maintain and boost the UK’s world-leading position in the development and exploitation of creative intellectual property (IP). The CoSTAR Network provides facilities, technology research and a series of different academic and industry partnerships to support the continued growth of the UK’s gaming, TV, film, performance, and digital entertainment sectors by enabling the development of new products, services, or processes.

CoSTAR delivers programmes direct to industry that lower the barrier of entry to R&D and the use of new and emergent technologies, providing support to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and microbusinesses who would otherwise not have access to the facilities they need to experiment and scale their innovations.

See more details on the work of the CoSTAR Network.

The challenge

The UK creative industries are a major economic asset, contributing £145.8 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) and supporting 2.4 million jobs in 2024.  The sector expanded by more than twice the wider economy over the longer term (2010 to 2024) and is highly innovative. The creative industries outperformed the rest of the economy in all forms of innovation.

The UK ranks 6th globally in the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s Global Innovation Index and 3rd in creative outputs and the UK’s global strength in film, music, fashion and gaming underpins strong export performance, with almost £60 billion in creative industries exports in 2023. The sector has the highest employment growth projection of all the Industrial Strategy sectors according to Skills England.

Despite this performance, the sector faces challenges to growth including uncertainty around digital and intellectual property regulation, a £1.4 billion finance gap constraining SME growth, particularly at the scale-up stages, and persistent regional disparities in concentration, investment, innovation and skills.

Rapid advances in AI, immersive and virtual production technologies are reshaping creative production, creating productivity opportunities alongside risks relating to skills, IP and cultural value. Environmental pressures are increasing as production becomes more compute and energy intensive. These pressures are particularly acute in creative technology-intensive activities, where rapid advances in AI, real-time production and immersive systems are increasing both productivity potential and the capital intensity of innovation, raising barriers to entry for smaller firms.

Government policy recognises the creative industries as a high-growth priority sector. The government has also set an ambition to make the UK the best place to start and grow a ‘createch’ business, with the CoSTAR infrastructure a key component to meet this ambition.

Createch Futures is designed to extend CoSTAR’s geographical and sub-sector reach to improve integration, access and commercial pathways, rather than replicating existing provision. As one of the Industrial Strategy sectors, the creative industries developed a Sector Plan setting out a 10-year strategy for growth including a focus on innovation and the role of place. This supported the Secretary of State’s priority of growth and good jobs in every place and the government’s Growth Mission.

The Creative Industries Sector Plan sets an ambition to grow the sector, identifying innovation, R&D capability, skills and access to finance as critical enablers of growth. This builds on commitments in the Creative Industries Sector Deal and Sector Vision, which highlighted the need for stronger innovation infrastructure and university–industry collaboration to support technology adoption and export growth. In parallel, the AI Opportunities Action Plan recognises the transformative role of AI and the need to lead in both building and using AI to remain a world leader. Together, these national policies establish creative technology as a priority growth area requiring targeted infrastructure support.

These drivers are reinforced by the evolution of CoSTAR. Two years into implementation, a review of CoSTAR identified gaps in network cohesion, business-facing access, and strategic alignment with rapidly evolving technologies such as AI, while reaffirming the importance of a nationally co-ordinated approach. At sub-national level, regional and local initiatives, including the Creative Industries Clusters Programme, the Creative Places Growth Fund, and locally led creative scale-up interventions, demonstrate sustained demand for creative R&D capability and improved commercialisation pathways outside London.

Collectively, these drivers point to the need for an integrated national creative technology infrastructure that strengthens access, adoption and commercial outcomes for businesses beyond the current CoSTAR programme, providing the underpinning infrastructure to enable place-based activity.

Research and innovation impact

Impact can be defined as the long-term intended or unintended effect research and innovation has on society, economy and the environment; to individuals, organisations, and the wider global population.

Research disruption due to COVID-19

We recognise that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused major interruptions and disruptions across our communities. We are committed to ensuring that individual applicants and their wider team, including partners and networks, are not penalised for any disruption to their career, such as:

• breaks and delays

• disruptive working patterns and conditions

• the loss of ongoing work

• role changes that may have been caused by the pandemic

Reviewers and panel members will be advised to consider the unequal impacts that COVID-19 related disruption might have had on the capability to deliver and career development of those individuals included in the application. They will be asked to consider the capability of the applicant and their wider team to deliver the research they are proposing.

Where disruptions have occurred, you can highlight this within your application if you wish, but there is no requirement to detail the specific circumstances that caused the disruption.

Related content

• UKRI policies and standards

• AHRC policies and standards

• AHRC research funding guide

• The UK's Modern Industrial Strategy - Creative Industries Sector Plan

• Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) AI Opportunities Action Plan

Related opportunities

• CoSTAR Satellite Labs: Accessible creative R&D infrastructure

Get help with your application

If you have a question and the answers aren’t provided on this page

The helpdesk is committed to helping users of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service as effectively and as quickly as possible. In order to manage cases at peak volume times, the helpdesk will triage and prioritise those queries with an imminent opportunity deadline or a technical issue. Enquiries raised where information is available on the Funding finder opportunity page and should be understood early in the application process (for example, regarding eligibility, content or remit of a funding opportunity) will not constitute a priority case and will be addressed as soon as possible.

Contact details

For help and advice on costings and writing your application please contact your research office in the first instance, allowing sufficient time for your organisation’s submission process.

Any questions regarding the CoSTAR programme can be directed to costar@ahrc.ukri.org

Questions about application and grant processes should be sent to the Grant Operations Team via operations@ahrc.ukri.org

Any queries regarding the system or the submission of applications through the Funding Service should be directed to the helpdesk.

Email: support@funding-service.ukri.org

Phone: 01793 547490

Our phone lines are open:

• Monday to Thursday 8:30am to 5:00pm

• Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm

To help us process queries more efficiently, we request that users highlight the council and opportunity name in the subject title of their email query, include the application reference number, and refrain from contacting more than one mailbox at a time.

For further information on submitting an application read How applicants use the Funding Service.