CoSTAR Satellite Labs: Accessible creative R&D infrastructure
Funding
Up to £2,000,000
Deadline
29 October 2026
Location
England
Applications
Deadline: 29 October 2026
Overview
This grant helps you join the CoSTAR Network and host national research and development infrastructure for the creative sector. AHRC will fund up to two Satellite Labs through the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's Createch Futures programme. Each lab can receive up to £2 million over three years. The money mainly pays for equipment, technology, staff, utilities and an access programme. You would design and fit out a creative R&D facility, which can be a refurbishment or extension of an existing site. It must be co-sited with a screen production facility, studio or performance company. You would then manage the lab for three years and work with the CoSTAR National Lab and the wider network. The aim is to lower barriers to technology adoption for creative businesses and to help them commercialise, scale up and attract investment. The application must be led by a UK research organisation eligible for AHRC funding. Your consortium needs at least one commercial or industry co-location partner and one local or combined authority or similar body. You must also show wider local industry support and significant co-investment. The full economic cost can be up to £2 million, excluding third party match funding. That match funding must equal at least 50% of the full economic cost you request. AHRC will fund 80% of the full economic cost. The deadline is 4:00pm UK time on 29 October 2026. Projects run for three years from April 2027 and must start by 31 May 2027. Interviews for shortlisted applicants are expected in the week commencing 25 January 2027. One practical point: your lab must be in a region with Createch activity that is distinct from the existing CoSTAR Labs. It should also specialise in an area that extends the network beyond its current work. Official source: https://www.find-government-grants.service.gov.uk/grants/costar-satellite-labs-accessible-creative-rd-infrastructure-grant-1. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.
Requirements to check
Who can apply:
Key requirements:
- Lead applicant must be a UK research organisation eligible for AHRC funding
- Consortium must include a commercial or industry co-location partner and a local or combined authority or equivalent body
- Third party match funding must be at least 50% of the full economic cost requested
- AHRC funds 80% of the full economic cost
- Lab must be co-sited with a screen production facility, studio or performance company
- Project runs for three years from April 2027 and must start by 31 May 2027
Your application must be led by a UK Research and Innovation eligible research organisation, heading a partnership or consortium. The consortium must include at least one commercial or industry co-location partner and one local or combined authority or equivalent economic development body. You must show wider local industry support and significant co-investment. The project lead must live in the UK, hold a doctorate or equivalent experience, and have a strong track record in major R&D programmes. International collaborations are not eligible.
This summary may not include every exclusion. Check the full eligibility rules, including who and what the funder will not support.
UK research organisations leading consortia with industry and local authority partners that want to host a national creative technology R&D lab in a region new to the CoSTAR Network.
Regions
Full details from UK Research and Innovation, Arts and Humanities Research Council
Join the CoSTAR Network and host national infrastructure for creative sector research and development. Reduce barriers to creative businesses’ technology adoption and support commercialisation, scale up and investment for creative tech businesses. You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for AHRC funding.
Apply through the UKRI Funding Service; the Je-S system cannot be used. The project lead starts the application, signs in or creates an account, and answers the questions online. You then send it to your research office for checking. Only the lead research organisation can submit it to UKRI. AHRC must receive it by 4:00pm UK time on 29 October 2026.
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