CoSTAR National Lab Call: Advanced Production Technology
CoSTAR National Lab: Advanced Production Technology
Application deadline
Monday 15 December 2025, 12.00 GMT
CoSTAR National Lab: Advanced Production Technology
- Synopsis
- What we are looking for
- What is on offer?
- Who can apply?
- How to apply
- Support for applications
- Assessment criteria
- FAQs
- Timeline
Led by CoSTAR National Lab
The CoSTAR National Lab is exploring emergent forms of advanced production that can deliver efficiencies or enhance production workflows in support of impactful audience facing experiences.
Sign up for Q&A webinar: Tuesday 25 November 12:30-14:00Timeline
Opening Date for Applications: Tuesday 4 November 2025, 12:00 GMT
Closing Date for Applications: Monday 15 December 2025, 12:00 GMT
Application Outcome: You will be informed in writing of the outcome within 10 weeks of the closing date unless notified otherwise.
Project Start and Duration: Projects can be up to 4 months in duration and must begin after 1 March 2026 and end no later than 31 July 2026.
Essential documents
Synopsis
This call is looking for a variety of UK-based creative or technology focussed companies working on technical innovations within production pipelines. Potential use cases may be found within film, TV, games, live performance or other forms of digital content production. We are also particularly interested in projects that can demonstrate how the technology or proposed innovation could be applied across more than one type of creative output or creative industries subsector – thus creating efficiencies within a forward thinking, converged production process.
The CoSTAR National Lab offers access to studio facilities, AI compute facilities, research expertise, and cash funding to support R&D projects. A total of £140,000 of cash funding is available to support between 3-5 projects. The maximum awarded to any single project will be £40k, however, we expect to fund a range of projects at different funding levels.
What we are looking for
The CoSTAR National Lab is looking for applications from UK-based creative or technology focussed companies. This might include those working in film and TV development, animation, visual effects, games, digital content creation, live performance production, as well as those working in new forms of media and emerging technology.
In particular, this call looks to explore the potential for new workflows and production tools, including (but not limited to) innovations in:
2D and 3D capture or asset production
Motion capture or motion extraction techniques
AI-powered production pipelines
Democratised production, where innovations significantly lower the barrier to entry, or increase accessibility to technology use
Converged production, whereby use of common assets, tools and production workflows can enable efficient and effective translation of IP across different forms of creative output
Applicants need to be able to demonstrate a clear rationale for how their R&D projects could lead to commercial opportunities for their business (for example, through generation of technical or creative IP, or helping to unlock new markets). Applicants must also demonstrate why the CoSTAR support package on offer is needed to unlock these opportunities.
These projects will also help the CoSTAR Network to trial, test and showcase new ways of supporting R&D in the creative industries. The projects selected through this call are expected to deliver tangible outputs. These may be early-stage prototypes or proof-of-concept demonstrations, or later stage product developments that leverage the CoSTAR National Lab’s advanced infrastructure.
Social Impact
Environmental Sustainability and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) are central to our work at CoSTAR and all our Access Programmes. All projects, regardless of their main R&D focus, are expected to have a demonstrable engagement with either EDI, sustainability or both. This will be supported by training and mentorship in areas that include; equitable design, developing environmental sustainability principles and working with diverse user groups.
For more detail on this and guidance on what to include in your proposal, please see the Full Call Brief document.
Intellectual Property (IP)
Successful Applicants will own any new IP created through their projects, however, some terms and conditions will apply. Please see the section on IP in the Full Call Brief document for more details.
Apply nowWhat is on offer?
CoSTAR support for this call offers a combination of access to equipment and facilities, research expertise, and cash funding to support project costs. The total value of this support package is valued at over £130,000 per project. This call will support between 3-5 projects.
Successful projects will have the opportunity to access:
Studio equipment and facilities: a one-week sprint at the CoSTAR National Lab Futures Studio, Egham, Surrey. This includes on-boarding and orientation on the required equipment by our technical team. Please see here for a description of the Futures Studio facilities.
AI compute facilities: Companies taking part in this programme would be given priority access to one node of 8x HP200 GPUs for up to 200 hrs, which is part of the CoSTAR National Lab infrastructure. Please see here for a description of our compute facilities and the ‘pilot cluster’ which is available for this call.
Research Expertise: staff and researchers will guide and collaborate with you during the tenancy, and will also be able to provide up to 10 days total of ad-hoc support outside of the sprint window over the project’s total duration. Please see description of this research expertise below.
Cash funding: a total of £140,000 of cash funding is available to support between 3-5 projects. The maximum awarded to any single project will be £40k, however, we expect to fund a range of projects at different funding levels. Funding is available to contribute to costs in undertaking the project, such as contracting performers, interaction design, editing, consumables etc. Please see section on Eligible Costs in the Full Call Brief document.
Travel Budget: if a project requires a period of residency (two or more days) at the CoSTAR National Lab and if travel distance is more than two hours from that lab, a company stipend of up to £4,000 is available to support travel and accommodation subject to eligibility criteria.
Research and Prototyping Expertise
The CoSTAR National Lab conducts applied research and prototyping activity into a variety of areas relevant to advanced production technology. Areas of focus to date have included using Gaussian Splat technology for object and scene capture within a production pipeline, exploring markerless motion capture solutions, and using generative AI for enhancing live performances. We have also conducted work exploring bespoke AI video workflow and tooling focused on training digital likenesses, driving motion of AI characters from live actor performances and dressing characters using AI supported costume design techniques.
More information on this work can be found on our prototyping page. The CoSTAR National Lab also has expertise narrative and games design, virtual worlds and real-time visual effects, motion and volumetric capture, user testing and audience research, multi-sensory perception, business modelling, live performance, and event production. If you feel your work would benefit from collaboration and access to expertise in any of these areas, please note this in your application form.
Who can apply?
This competition invites applications from teams across the UK. Teams may include a variety of UK-based companies, technologists, researchers and creative practitioners, however, the lead applicant must be a UK-based company and demonstrate a high level of ambition to deliver technological advancement and business growth in its application to creative industries challenges.
Organisations applying must meet the following Eligibility Criteria:
have a lead applicant that is an enterprise or legal entity registered and trading in the UK
be from or support the screen and/or performance sectors
have an operations and/or project team based in the UK
intend to carry out any project work arising from this award in the UK
intend to exploit the results of work from or in the UK
only include eligible project costs in their application (see guidance on Eligible Costs in the Full Call Brief document)
not attribute more than 75% of project costs to subcontractors. Subcontractors can be from anywhere in the UK
How to apply
To apply, please complete the online application form on the Submittable platform by the deadline on Monday 15 December 2025, 12.00 GMT. You will be informed in writing of the outcome within 10 weeks of the closing date, unless notified otherwise. In the event of very high application volumes this timeframe may be extended.
Please make sure you have read the full information available for this call, found in the following documents:
Please make sure you have read the full information available for this call, found in the following documents:
For more information, please join our webinar on Tuesday 25 November 2025 at 12.30-14.00 GMT.
Apply nowSupport for applications
CoSTAR is committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, and reducing barriers to access. Our goal is to ensure that applying and participating in our programmes is easy and accessible for all.
Reasonable adjustments may include:
Submitting an application via a form in Microsoft Word format (available upon request)
Options made available for video or audio submissions in place of written answers for each section in the application
All webinars will be accessible with visual/written briefs made available for review during and after the event
Individual requests for access support will be accommodated wherever possible and equitable
CoSTAR also provides Access Support Bursaries, based on a disability, health condition, or access need, to support those making applications to, or participating in, our Industry Access Programmes. For more information on the Access Support Bursaries and how to apply please click here. For any other queries about access needs or reasonable adjustments, please contact costar.pilots@rhul.ac.uk.
Sign up for Q&A webinar: Tuesday 25 November 12:30-14:00Assessment criteria
Once CoSTAR has received your application, it will go through a formal assessment process. This will be undertaken by an independent panel of CoSTAR assessors and partners. The assessors will consider the following criteria:
The problem that your innovation seeks to address is well defined
The proposed solution is clear and achievable
The specific R&D focus and/or innovation of the project is novel and well-articulated*
The proposed solution has strong commercial value, with an appropriate route to market
The project team has strong leadership, and the range of skills and experience needed to deliver the project
The project management plan and approach to risk management is appropriate and achievable*
The request for CoSTAR support is clear and reasonable
There is a clear rationale for why CoSTAR support is required to progress and/or accelerate the project
The project is of clear value to the performance and/or screen sectors
There is a strong approach to engaging with Social Impact (EDI and/or Environmental Sustainability)
* denotes criteria that will receive double weighting during the assessment process
We will take a portfolio approach to the final selection of companies to ensure a diverse range of different innovative projects and companies are supported by this call.
FAQs
Key information and links:
All details about the CoSTAR Network, the CoSTAR National Lab can be found on our website.
Please read the full downloadable brief before attending the webinar or submitting your application.
We encourage you to reach out if you have any questions not covered in these FAQs and look forward to receiving your application!
Our email address for this funding call is costar.pilots@rhul.ac.uk
For FAQs covering general call inquiries, eligibility, content & IP, production & delivery and applications see below
General call inquiries
What is this call actually asking for? What are you hoping to see?
We are looking for exciting projects exploring the use of new technology within production pipelines. This might include companies looking at creative technology product development, or adoption of new technology within a production process in order to improve or develop new services, or new forms of audience experience. We encourage applicants to look at the particular areas of interest outlined within the Full Call Brief document, however, we also welcome applications from outside these areas. All applications should be able to demonstrate a strong alignment with the CoSTAR offer specifically i.e. a package of funding, access to facilities, and access to expertise to enable creative R&D that ultimately supports business growth.
What sorts of companies and organisations are able to apply for this call?
CoSTAR has been designed to support UK business growth across the Creative Industries via access to leading edge technical facilities and research expertise. CoSTAR is an important part of UKRI’s R&D strategy for the Creative Industries. Research Organisations, Creative Practitioners and Sole Traders can be included in applications, but the lead applicant must be a UK-based company and demonstrate a high level of ambition to deliver technological advancement and business growth in its application to creative industries challenges. For this call, applicants may be from across the creative industries, including those working in film and TV development, animation, visual effects, games, digital content creation, live performance production, as well as those working in new forms of media and emerging technology.
How many projects will you be funding?
A total of £140k of cash funding is available to support between 3-5 projects. The maximum awarded to any single project will be £40,000. However, we expect to fund a range of projects at different funding levels.
Can I apply from anywhere in the UK?
Companies can apply from anywhere across the UK and, if eligible, there is a travel stipend to cover travel and accommodation expenses.
Why is the total value of this project over £130k per company, but the most a company would receive is £40k in cash?
CoSTAR is an infrastructure programme and much of the value is based on access to cutting edge facilities at the lab, and the research specialisms of the teams you will be working with there. The cash value is for eligible costs a company and consortia may incur in order to develop an R&D project with us.
Can I ask questions about the sorts of facilities and research support available in order to put my application together?
Yes, we are holding a webinar in order to invite questions from potential applicants. You will hear more about the facilities and the research support available, and you can ask questions. If you cannot attend either of these, we will post them online or you can email us at costar.pilots@rhul.ac.uk
Before emailing, please do attend or watch the webinar recordings as many of your answers may be covered in the webinar.
Eligibility
I’m a freelancer - can I apply?
Only if you are a limited company, or if you are part of an application where the lead applicant is a limited company.
Can a research organisation apply for this call?
A research organisation can be included as part of an application, but the lead applicant must be a UK registered limited company.
Does the applicant company need to have been registered as a UK company for a certain period prior to application?
We are aware that some companies won’t have been trading long enough to have submitted any accounts or may have submitted abridged accounts if turnover is not of a sufficient level. This should not prevent you from applying for the programme, as long as your company is registered with Companies House. This has been communicated to the judging panel and will not affect the judging process.
Would current projects that are already running be considered for funding or are you looking for new projects to fund?
A current project would have to illustrate a well-defined R&D problem that it is looking to address as part of this opportunity. The programme exists to deliver exciting R&D opportunities for companies to work on, it is not project completion funding.
Content & IP
I’m a freelancer - can I apply?
Only if you are a limited company, or if you are part of an application where the lead applicant is a limited company.
Can a research organisation apply for this call?
A research organisation can be included as part of an application, but the lead applicant must be a UK registered limited company.
Does the applicant company need to have been registered as a UK company for a certain period prior to application?
We are aware that some companies won’t have been trading long enough to have submitted any accounts or may have submitted abridged accounts if turnover is not of a sufficient level. This should not prevent you from applying for the programme, as long as your company is registered with Companies House. This has been communicated to the judging panel and will not affect the judging process.
Would current projects that are already running be considered for funding or are you looking for new projects to fund?
A current project would have to illustrate a well-defined R&D problem that it is looking to address as part of this opportunity. The programme exists to deliver exciting R&D opportunities for companies to work on, it is not project completion funding.
Production & Delivery
If our company is successful is there a fixed start date?
There are no fixed dates but please note the timings outlined in the brief: projects can be up to 4 months in duration and must begin after 1 March 2026 and end no later than 31 July 2026.
What is your Inclusion Policy? E.g. Are you able to provide reasonable adjustments and support where needed?
We encourage applicants to let us know about any reasonable adjustments they may require for the application process or their proposed project. You may already know what you would like to request, or you may like to have a general discussion of your options.
CoSTAR also provides Access Support Bursaries, based on a disability, health condition, or access need, to support those making applications to, or participating in, our Industry Access Programmes. For more information on the Access Support Bursaries and how to apply please click here. For any other queries about access needs or reasonable adjustments, please contact costar.pilots@rhul.ac.uk.
Can I apply to use the facilities at a different CoSTAR Lab?
The ‘host’ lab for this call is the CoSTAR National Lab (whose Futures Studio is based in Egham, Surrey) and this studio facility is offered in-kind as part of the package of support for this call, alongside the compute facilities. Where possible these should be utilised if required by the project, however, if you would like to use studio facilities at a different CoSTAR Lab (for example, because you require facilities or expertise that are not available at the host lab, or if geographical location presents a barrier to entry) then please state this in your application form with a clear description of the CoSTAR infrastructure you require along with your rationale. If your application is successful, we will endeavour to accommodate this request where possible.
Can I apply to use facilities (for example, at a university or commercial company) that are not part of the CoSTAR Network?
CoSTAR facilities are provided in-kind as part of the package of support attached to this call. If the facilities you require can be found at one of the CoSTAR Labs then these should be utilised rather than another facility. If, as part of your project, you require facilities that are not available through the CoSTAR Network, then you may include this in your application, however, this must be costed into your request for funding support (as these cannot be provided in-kind). Please note, however, that projects that do not make significant use of the CoSTAR infrastructure (whether facilities or expertise) are not likely to be a good fit for this funding and may not be successful.
Applications
Do I have to use Submittable to complete my application?
Yes, we need your application to be entered via Submittable. If for any reason you need support to submit your application this way, please contact us by emailing costar.pilots@rhul.ac.uk
What documents are required at the time of application?
The application asks for a high-level project plan and budget, we define this at application stage as a project plan that identifies costed work packages, with identifiable work package owners along with an approximate timeline and approximate budgetary information as it would apply to staffing and labour costs, use of any freelancers and subcontractors, capital usage, and materials – please respond within the application form.
You do not need to attach or send any additional documents to your application at this stage. If we require clarification or supporting evidence to your application, we will contact you.
How long will the review process of applications take?
All applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application within 10 weeks of applications closing unless notified otherwise. In the event of very high call volumes, this period may be extended.
I want to include more detail than a section in the application form allows, is this permitted?
No, only the information contained within the application form and within page limits specified for each section will be evaluated when selecting proposals. This is to ensure all proposals are scored fairly and equally and helps assessors to more easily compare proposals.
Will I be asked to complete an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion form as part of the application process?
Yes, the lead applicant only will be required to answer EDI questions. These responses will not be seen by assessors and will not impact your application in any way. All responses are anonymised and form part of our data collection requirements by our funder only.
Can I speak to someone from the team before submitting?
Please ensure you have read the full brief and attend or watch the Webinar recordings. If you still have a specific question, please email us at costar.pilots@rhul.ac.uk with your question and we will put you in touch with the correct person. We cannot provide individual guidance on your application or specific feedback on your ideas in advance of your application.
Will I receive feedback on my application if I am unsuccessful?
Due to the sheer number of applications, we apologise, however, we will be unable to provide detailed individual feedback on each application. We will provide overall feedback on what may have been missing across unsuccessful applications for all applicants to consider. Please note there will be further opportunities to engage with our CoSTAR Access Programmes and we encourage you to re-apply for subsequent calls if you are unsuccessful in this round.
Timeline
Opening Date for Applications: Tuesday 4 November 2025, 12:00 GMT
Closing Date for Applications: Monday 15 December 2025, 12:00 GMT
Application Outcome: You will be informed in writing of the outcome within 10 weeks of the closing date unless notified otherwise.
Project Start and Duration: Projects can be up to 4 months in duration and must begin after 1 March 2026 and end no later than 31 July 2026.
Essential documents