CoSTAR Showcase Labs: Createch infrastructure and commercialisation
Funding
Up to £4,000,000
Deadline
29 October 2026
Location
England
Applications
Deadline: 29 October 2026
Overview
This grant helps UK research organisations host a CoSTAR Showcase Lab. CoSTAR is AHRC's national network of creative research infrastructure. The Showcase Labs are part of an expansion funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) through its Createch Futures programme. Your lab would design and fit out creative research and development facilities, including the technology inside them. The space must sit alongside a screen production facility, studio or performance company. It would focus on near market work and act as a hub that drives investment in and adoption of new creative technologies. It would also give creative businesses lower cost access to specialist equipment. AHRC will fund up to two Showcase Labs over three years. The full economic cost of each can be up to £4 million, and AHRC pays 80% of that cost. You must also bring pledged third party match funding worth at least 50% of the cost you request. This can come from commercial, not-for-profit and local government partners. Co-investment levels count in the assessment. The lead must be a research organisation eligible for UKRI funding. It must work with at least one commercial or industry co-location partner and one local or combined authority or similar body. International collaborations are not eligible. Applications are open now and close at 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 bids are expected in the week commencing 25 January 2027. One practical point: only the lead research organisation can submit, and your research office must check the application first. Allow time for that. Official source: https://www.find-government-grants.service.gov.uk/grants/costar-showcase-labs-createch-infrastructure-and-commercialisation-grant-1. Last checked by GrantMatch on 15 October 2026.
Requirements to check
Who can apply:
Key requirements:
- Third party match funding of at least 50% of the full economic cost requested is required.
- AHRC funds 80% of the full economic cost.
- The consortium must include a commercial or industry co-location partner and a local or combined authority or equivalent body.
- The lab must be co-sited with a screen production facility, studio or performance company.
- The award lasts three years from April 2027 and projects must start by 31 May 2027.
- International collaborations are not eligible.
You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for AHRC funding. The application must be led by a UKRI eligible organisation heading a partnership or consortium. It must include at least one commercial or industry co-location partner and one local or combined authority or equivalent economic development body. You need proof of wider local industry support and co-investment. The project lead must be UK resident, hold a doctorate or equivalent experience, and have a strong track record in delivering 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 eligible for UKRI funding that can lead a consortium with industry and local government partners to host a creative technology research and innovation lab.
Sectors
Regions
No published award history for UK Research and Innovation, Arts and Humanities Research Council. Some funders do not publish their grants data.
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 Joint Electronic Submissions system cannot be used. The project lead confirms their role, signs in or creates an account, and answers the questions online. The lead then sends the application to their research office for checking. The research office submits it to UKRI. Only the lead research organisation can submit.
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