CoSTAR Screen Lab Welcomes Two 5G Projects Through Prototypes & Pilots Programme

CoSTAR Screen Lab has announced two new R&D projects selected through its Prototypes & Pilots Programme (PPP), part of the Network’s first call focused on 5G innovation in the screen and performance sectors.

The programme provides each company with a comprehensive support package valued at over £150,000, including up to £35,000 in funding, access to CoSTAR Screen Lab’s state-of-the-art facilities at Studio Ulster, and dedicated research expertise. Running from September to November 2025, the projects will investigate how advanced wireless networks can transform creative workflows, improve accessibility, and reduce environmental impact in the screen industries.

Professor Declan Keeney, Director of CoSTAR Screen Lab, said:
"This funding call attracted a wide range of ambitious applications from across the UK’s creative industries. We are delighted to welcome HoloEdge and RETìníZE to our first PPP cohort. Both projects demonstrate how 5G can unlock new creative opportunities — from expanding access to live cultural experiences, to enabling collaborative production across geographies. We look forward to supporting these companies as they develop and test their prototypes at CoSTAR Screen Lab."

Project Spotlights

HoloEdge

HoloEdge Digital creates audio-first digital experiences that blend opera, storytelling, and extended reality (XR). Using ambisonics audio, spatial computing, and immersive live streaming, HoloEdge reimagines how audiences engage with classical music and opera.

With CoSTAR Screen Lab’s support, HoloEdge will collaborate with English National Opera to explore the live immersive distribution of opera via XR platforms. The project will pilot the broadcast of ENO’s Carmen dress rehearsal from the London Coliseum (6 October 2025) to community focus groups into the Screen Lab's LED volume in Belfast. Partners include Nimblecast (live streaming), Whitepot Studios (immersive development), and Stunt Double (immersive audio). The three-month pilot will integrate 5G-enabled solutions to capture live performance and test user engagement, expanding access to opera for new and underserved audiences while positioning ENO at the forefront of next-generation cultural broadcasting.

RETìníZE

RETìníZE is one of Europe’s fastest-growing creative-tech companies, co-founded in 2019 by Phil and Jack Morrow. Its flagship product, Animotive, is a VR SaaS platform that democratises 3D animation workflows by removing technical barriers and reducing production costs by over 80%.

RETìníZE’s PPP project will integrate Animotive with CoSTAR infrastructure to develop a 5G-enabled distributed motion capture workflow. By networking live Vicon data from CoSTAR Realtime Lab into the Screen Lab, the project will enable remote performers and directors to collaborate in real time within a synchronised virtual environment regardless of location. The outcome has significant implications for animation, gaming, previsualisation, and education, offering agile, cost-effective workflows for creative teams worldwide.

The funded projects will run from September to November 2025, with ongoing support and guidance from CoSTAR Screen Lab.