CoSTAR to open UK's first National R&D Lab for creative industries

Set to open next January, the facility will feature a 236 square metre sound stage, virtual production technology and a series of labs featuring spatial audio, volumetric capture and multisensory devices

By Matthew Corrigan

Published: January 23, 2025 Updated: January 24, 2025

Set to open next January, the facility will feature a 236 square metre sound stage, virtual production technology and a series of labs featuring spatial audio, volumetric capture and multisensory devices

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CoSTAR has announced the National R&D Lab will be opening at Pinewood Studios in January 2026.

Funded by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Infrastructure Fund, the CoSTAR National Lab aims to drive innovation and foster collaboration across the media and entertainment sector as the UK's first national facility for R&D in the creative industries.

Professor Christopher Smith, executive chair of the UKRI arts and humanities research council, said, The CoSTAR National Lab is critical to our ambitions for both the wider CoSTAR Network, and the ability of the UK's creative industries to act as a key driver of growth as identified in the government's industrial strategy.

Situated within the CoSTAR stage at Pinewood Studios' K Block, the facility will include a 236 square metre sound stage, virtual production technology and a series of labs featuring spatial audio, volumetric capture and multisensory devices.

Access to the Lab's infrastructure will be enabled for M&E businesses throughout the country with a cloud-based Creative AI Compute Facility. The Lab will feature prototyping as well as an incubation and partner business space while connectivity will be enabled via a private 5G/6G network at the site. Smaller enterprises will be supported to experiment in a de-risked environment, said the company.

The infrastructure aims to enable collaboration and experimentation for SMEs operating in the sector, underpinned by CoSTAR's academic and industry partners: Royal Holloway, University of London, National Film and Television School, Abertay University, University of Surrey, BT and Disguise.

Commenting on the Lab's opening, Prof. James Bennett, director of CoSTAR National Lab and pro vice chancellor, creative industries at Royal Holloway, University of London, said, This is an amazing opportunity to unite our world-class research expertise in innovation technologies with Pinewood's incredible history as a home of global film production.

In keeping with Pinewood's history, we believe that the National Lab will foster innovation by enabling world-class creatives to tell great stories with new technologies. This is a space for technology and storytelling to come together, he added.

By providing R&D support and a unique space for experimenting and taking risks, we can drive new ideas from playful sparks to outcomes that compete on a global stage. CoSTAR at Pinewood will create a launchpad for a whole new world of audience experience.

A dedicated £7 million funding package will be made available, aiming to promote inclusive, sustainable and ethical expansion across the sector, with businesses invited to apply for a share through Access Programmes.

James Rider, general manager, Pinewood Studios, said, The CoSTAR National Lab will have a very welcome base at the heart of the British film industry. Pinewood Studios is a natural fit to nurture, develop and evolve new technologies and talent.

We look forward to seeing the results of this substantial investment and unique collaboration and the positive impact on the future of the creative industries in the UK.

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