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Our purpose
Providing UK companies with access to today's cutting-edge technologies and research expertise to power the stories of tomorrow.
The UK's first national R&D network for creative industries
Convergent Screen Technologies and performance in Realtime, or CoSTAR for short, is a £75.6 million investment by the UKRI Infrastructure Fund, delivered by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).
We are building the UK's first national R&D infrastructure to provide UK creative companies with unique access to specialised facilities, technology, cutting-edge connectivity and a national network of research and industry expertise.
Through open competitions and development opportunities CoSTAR will transform great ideas into market-ready product, driving the continued growth of our gaming, TV, film, performance, and digital entertainment sectors.
UK creative industries are a driver of economic growth contributing around £124 billion to the economy each year, accounting for 6% of Gross Value Added.
They have been identified by successive governments as a priority sector due to the fact they are already world-leading and with potential for additional global growth, specifically in areas such as digital trade. To maintain traction the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is funding the adoption of transformative technologies that could enhance innovation and productivity.
CoSTAR is a UK Research and Innovation backed response to an increasing need for a collaborative, pan UK network fuelled by cutting-edge technologies and world- class research expertise to support the UK’s next generation of creative companies.
Who is it for?
We support small and medium sized businesses that characterise the UK’s Creative Industries by providing competitive opportunities that lower the barrier of entry to R&D for emergent technologies.
We also offer successful applicants support from our bursary fund to ensure that access is open to all.
Using our infrastructure, businesses at all stages can develop their ideas into new and exciting forms of intellectual property to surprise and delight audiences around the world.
Where is it?
The CoSTAR Network is made up of five R&D Labs located across the UK, each with their own research specialism, technical facilities and expert researchers.
National Lab - which will have a state of the art facility opening at Pinewood Studios in 2026 and will serve as a central hub to co-ordinate collaborative opportunities across the CoSTAR Network.
Foresight Lab - is a community of industry leading researchers, policy experts and data analysts working to understand how new tech is shaping games, film, TV, performance, and digital entertainment led by Goldsmiths, University of London.
Live Lab - is a UK hub for developing new technology that makes live performance more immersive, flexible, and impactful, led by the University of York and based in Production Park, Wakefield.
Realtime Lab - is a community of world-leading experts and industry pioneers exploring what’s next in virtual production and real-time tech and gaming, based in Scotland and led by Abertay University.
Screen Lab - is a facility for film, TV, gaming, and digital entertainment creators, focused on using technology to open up new ways of telling your stories. Based at Studio Ulster in Belfast and led by Ulster University.
Explore our labs
The CoSTAR National Lab will provide a state-of-the-art, AI enabled converged media production stage. Currently based at Futures Studio, Surrey and opening its flagship facility at Pinewood Studios in 2026. Led by Royal Holloway, University of London.
Screen Lab is a facility for film, TV, gaming, and digital entertainment creators based at Studio Ulster and led by Ulster University.
Live Lab is a UK hub for developing new technology for live performance based in Production Park, Wakefield and is led by the University of York.
Realtime Lab explores virtual production and real-time tech and gaming and is based in Water's Edge, Dundee led by Abertay University.
Foresight Lab is a community of industry leading researchers, policy experts and data analysts led by Goldsmiths University of London.