CoSTAR Realtime Lab: Virtual Production Tool Box

The CoSTAR Realtime Lab seeks a collaborative partner to help democratise the Virtual Production process by creating a foundational media player that is accessible, intuitive and simple for creative content creators to use.   

Closing date - Wednesday 14 May 2025 14:00 GMT

Synopsis

CoSTAR Realtime Lab is dedicated to advancing research and development (R&D) in Virtual Production, to help independent filmmakers, production companies and creators of immersive digital experiences be more efficient, cost effective and accessible. 

The process of building convincing environments for Virtual Production is complex and resource-intensive, requiring substantial technical skills, time, and computational power. Complex studio configurations and the need for on-site specialists in real-time engine production further restricts access to these advanced techniques.  

The CoSTAR Realtime Lab seeks a collaborative R&D partner to help democratise the Virtual Production process, by creating a foundational media player, that is accessible, intuitive and simple for creative content creators to use.  The focus of this project is to develop an Open-Source solution. As well as access to our leading-edge facilities at Waters Edge in Dundee, support from our research team, and cash funding of up to £50,000, the awarded company will then have a period of exclusivity to specialise the outputs to support more specific commercial opportunities. In total, the support package on offer is valued at over £140,000 for this project.  

What are we looking for?

CoSTAR Realtime Lab research is focused on developing Open-Source scene editing tools to simplify scene-building in Virtual Production. The initial step is development of foundational ‘Media Player’ functionality within this scene editor, which is the focus of this call. The Media Player will provide functionality for asset import, along with the means to integrate digital images and video content as static or dynamic plates for export/playback. It will also focus on ways to simplify the integration of playback with studio infrastructure to reduce studio set up and configuration complexity. 

We are seeking applications from companies with capacity to develop software and UI solutions as part of their production processes. The successful applicant will work collaboratively with the CoSTAR Realtime Lab research team, who have deep expertise in game and real-time technologies, virtual production, and core design and software engineering skills. 

Applicants may come from a range of backgrounds, which could include (but is not limited to) VP or studio technology vendors, games development studios, creative technology developers, or VFX houses. Applicants will understand content creation processes and tech pipelines and be aware of how these challenges interact with creative practice and the barrier that complex software tools can present. Ideal applicants will understand the pipeline challenges of asset acquisition and creation, topology, textures and lighting and be actively engaged in digital content creation. They will be able to contribute development expertise and resources in: 

• Software development and pipeline integration 

• Use of ML and AI in tools and process development 

• UI and UX design  

• Product development and distribution 

Please see the Full Call Brief document for further details of the Media Player’s design considerations. 

What 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 £140,000.  

Successful applicants will have the opportunity to access:  

• Equipment and facilities: at our leading-edge lab at Waters Edge in Dundee. Please see here for a description of the Realtime Lab facilities. On-boarding and orientation on required infrastructure will be provided by our technical team. 

• Research Expertise: staff will guide and collaborate with you during development of the Media Player. Please see the Full Call Brief for further information on the expertise available. 

• Cash funding: up to £50,000 is available to contribute to costs in undertaking the project. 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 RealtimeLab 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. 

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 social impact 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 arrangements

The scene editor, and its component functional parts will be released under an Open Source (Apache/MIT Licence) licensing model that allows users to use, modify, distribute software for any purpose. Awarded companies will have a period of exclusivity (i.e. the project period plus 12 months) to specialise the outputs to support more specific commercial opportunities, subject to the terms of the subgrant agreement. They may benefit from CoSTAR further developing the foundational components and platform and will also benefit from the longer-term development of the foundational components and platform through Open-Source community enhancements. 

Who can apply?

This competition invites applications from teams from anywhere in 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)  

• 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 Wednesday 14 May 2025 at 14:00 GMT. You will be informed in writing of the outcome within 8 weeks of the closing date. 

Please make sure you have read all of the information available for this call, before applying found in the following document here before applying

For more information, please sign up to receive an invite for our Webinar on Tuesday 29 April.

Accessible applications 

Support is available for those who require assistance with the application process. 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 

To request support please contact costar.pilots@rhul.ac.uk 

Assessment 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 understanding of the problem and potential value to industry is clear and well-articulated 

• The key R&D/innovation focus areas, and the opportunity for R&D collaboration have been clearly identified* 

• The approach and proposed solution is appropriate, clear and achievable 

• Strong opportunities for realising commercial value have been identified, 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 approach to project management and 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 

• 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 

Timeline 

Open Date for Applications: Thursday 27 March 2025

Closing Date For Applications: Wednesday 14 May 2025 at 14:00 GMT

Application Outcome: You will be informed in writing of the outcome within 8 weeks of the closing date. 

Project Duration: 4-6 months