# CoSTAR Showcase Labs

**Funder:** AHRC
**Budget:** Up to £4M per Showcase Lab (80% FEC, excluding minimum 50% third-party match funding)
**Deadline:** 29 October 2026 (16:00 UK time)
**Duration:** 3 years from April 2027
**Consortium:** Required — lead UKRI-eligible organisation plus at least one commercial/industry co-location partner and one local/combined authority or economic development body
**Application:** Single stage
**TRL:** 6-9
**Frequency:** One-off
**Eligible countries:** GB
**Official call:** https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/costar-showcase-labs-createch-infrastructure-and-commercialisation/
**Last updated:** 25 Oct 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Part of AHRC's CoSTAR programme expansion funded by DCMS Createch Futures, delivering Showcase Labs co-sited with a screen production or performance facility. UK-only; international collaborations not eligible; requires minimum 50% third-party match funding and lead must be UK-resident with doctorate or equivalent experience.

## Summary

CoSTAR Showcase Labs, funded by AHRC through the DCMS Createch Futures programme, offers up to £4M per lab (80% FEC) to build facilities co-sited with a screen production or performance venue. The call requires a consortium led by a UK-resident researcher with a doctorate or equivalent experience, plus at least one commercial/industry co-location partner and one local or combined authority/economic development body, with projects running at technology readiness levels 6-9. This is a one-off call with a single application stage and mandatory minimum 50% third-party match funding.

## Who should apply

- Lead applicants who are UK-resident and hold a doctorate or equivalent research experience
- UKRI-eligible lead organisations partnered with a commercial/industry co-location partner
- Consortia including a local or combined authority / economic development body
- Teams working at technology readiness levels 6-9 (near-market to deployed)
- Projects focused on screen production or performance technology facilities, UK-based only

## Key dates

- Deadline: 29 October 2026, 16:00 UK time
- Single-stage application process
- Three-year project duration from April 2027
- One-off call (not recurring)

## Tips for applicants

- Secure firm commitments for the minimum 50% third-party match funding early, as this is a hard eligibility requirement, not just a scoring factor.
- Line up your commercial/industry co-location partner and local/combined authority partner before drafting, both are mandatory consortium roles, not optional strengtheners.
- Since this is a one-off call with a single application stage, there is no resubmission cycle to rely on, the proposal must be complete and fundable on first submission.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much funding does CoSTAR Showcase Labs provide?

Up to £4M per Showcase Lab at 80% full economic costs, with a minimum 50% third-party match funding requirement on top.

### Who can apply to CoSTAR Showcase Labs?

A UK-resident lead with a doctorate or equivalent experience, based at a UKRI-eligible organisation, applying as part of a consortium with a commercial/industry co-location partner and a local or combined authority body.

### Can international partners join a CoSTAR Showcase Labs consortium?

No, the call is UK-only and international collaborations are not eligible.

### When is the CoSTAR Showcase Labs deadline?

29 October 2026 at 16:00 UK time, and this is a one-off, single-stage call.

### How long do CoSTAR Showcase Labs projects run?

Three years, starting from April 2027.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/ahrc-costar-showcase-labs-2026-10) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.

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