# CoSTAR Showcase Labs: Createch Infrastructure and Commercialisation **Funder:** AHRC **Budget:** Up to £4M FEC per Showcase Lab (AHRC funds 80%); minimum 50% third-party match funding required **Deadline:** 29 October 2026 (4:00pm UK time) **Duration:** 3 years from April 2027 **Consortium:** Required — UKRI-eligible lead organisation plus at least one commercial/industry co-location partner and one local/combined authority or equivalent economic development body; wider industry co-investment (minimum 50% of FEC) also required **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:** 26 Aug 2026 ## Eligibility & scope UK-only; international collaborations are not eligible. Lead applicant must be UK-resident, affiliated with a UKRI-eligible organisation, hold a doctorate or equivalent, and have a track record in strategic delivery for screen/performance sectors. AHRC funds 80% FEC (up to £4M per Showcase Lab); minimum 50% third-party match funding required. Focuses on near-market R&D (TRL 6–9) in creative industries (screen, film, TV, games, performance). Up to two Showcase Labs will be awarded. ## Summary CoSTAR Showcase Labs funds near-market creative industries infrastructure and commercialisation at technology readiness levels 6-9, with AHRC providing up to £4 million per lab (80% of full economic cost) and requiring a minimum 50% third-party industry match. Applicants must lead a UK-based consortium comprising a UKRI-eligible organisation, at least one commercial co-location partner, and a local or combined authority, and hold a doctorate with a track record in strategic delivery for screen, film, TV, games, or performance. Only two Showcase Labs will be funded in this one-off call, closing 29 October 2026. ## Who should apply - Lead applicants based at a UKRI-eligible UK organisation with a doctorate - Strategic delivery leaders with demonstrated track record in screen, film, TV, games, or performance sectors - Consortium leads able to convene a commercial co-location partner and local/combined authority partner - Organisations with access to third-party funding to meet the minimum 50% match requirement - Projects at TRL 6-9 (prototype testing through near-market demonstration) ## Key dates - Deadline: 29 October 2026, 16:00 UK time - Three-year funding period from April 2027 ## Tips for applicants - The consortium architecture is gating: you must have a named commercial co-location partner and a local/combined authority partner in place before submission, vague promises of partnership delay evaluation. - Third-party match is 50% of full economic cost, not 50% of AHRC's contribution; budget your total project FEC accordingly. - AHRC weights strategic delivery track record heavily for creative sectors, lead with examples of prior successful infrastructure or commercialisation initiatives, not research novelty alone. ## Frequently asked questions ### How much can I apply for in the CoSTAR Showcase Labs call? Up to £4 million full economic cost, of which AHRC funds 80%; you must secure minimum 50% third-party match funding (£2M minimum). ### What partners do I need for a CoSTAR Showcase Labs application? A lead UKRI-eligible organisation, at least one commercial co-location partner, and a local or combined authority or equivalent economic development body; wider industry co-investment is also required to meet the 50% match threshold. ### Who is eligible to lead a CoSTAR Showcase Labs application? UK residents affiliated with a UKRI-eligible organisation who hold a doctorate or equivalent and have a track record in strategic delivery for screen, film, TV, games, or performance sectors. ### Can international collaborators join a CoSTAR Showcase Labs project? No, the call is UK-only and international collaborations are not eligible. ### How many Showcase Labs will be funded? Up to two Showcase Labs will be awarded in this one-off call. --- Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/ahrc-costar-showcase-labs-createch-infrastructure-and-c-2026-10) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying. **See which EU calls match your profile.** [Preview your matches in 30 seconds, no signup](https://grantsby.eu/demo?ref=llm_grant_md).