Overview
Studio Ulster is a £72 million virtual production campus led by Ulster University and developed in partnership with Belfast Harbour with support from Northern Ireland Screen. Funded by the Belfast Region City Deal, the Northern Ireland Executive, and the UK Government, Studio Ulster is one of the most technologically advanced screen production facilities in the world.
At the heart of the studio sits the CoSTAR Screen Lab, part of the UK-wide CoSTAR Network – the UK’s first dedicated R&D network for the Creative Industries. The CoSTAR Screen Lab is led by Ulster University and is driving innovation in real-time screen and performance technologies.
Together, Studio Ulster and CoSTAR represent a step-change for the UK’s creative industries, providing cutting-edge facilities, skills pipelines, and research capability that place Northern Ireland at the forefront of global screen innovation.
The Challenge
The UK’s Creative Industries are recognised as a key sector for growth to the UK economy, yet continued success depends on investment in next-generation facilities, sustainable production methods, and a highly skilled workforce. In Northern Ireland, this means tackling challenges of limited infrastructure for high-end production, ensuring access to emerging technologies like 5G-enabled workflows, and building an inclusive talent pipeline that meets the needs of a fast-growing industry.
Studio Ulster and CoSTAR directly respond to these challenges by:
- Creating direct and indirect jobs (24 direct FTE, 590 indirect over 30 years, plus 64 construction job-years).
- Generating economic growth (£27.6m direct GVA and £587.1m indirect GVA projected over 30 years).
- Developing a sustainable industry with virtual production delivering 20 – 50% lower carbon emissions per production compared to traditional methods.
Positioning Northern Ireland as a hub for foreign investment and global productions, targeting >60% utilisation by 2028.
Partnerships
Studio Ulster is a model of successful partnership between academia, industry and government, building on the creative industries ecosystem in Northern Ireland developed through the AHRC-funded, Ulster University-led Future Screens NI creative cluster, delivered in partnership with Belfast Harbour and Northern Ireland Screen. It is funded through the Belfast Region City Deal, the Northern Ireland Executive, and the UK Government.
CoSTAR Screen Lab at Studio Ulster forms part of the AHRC’s UK-wide CoSTAR Network. Together, these partnerships bring academic excellence, industry leadership, and public investment to one of the most ambitious creative industry initiatives in Europe.
Research
CoSTAR’s research is focussed on the transformative potential of real-time and immersive creative technologies, with priority given to areas including:
- 5G- and 6G-enabled production workflows
- Real-time graphics for world building
- Carbon reduction in screen production
- Spatial audio
- Inclusive talent capacity building
- AI-driven production tools
CoSTAR R&D
- The first Ideate cohort of the CoSTAR Enterprise & Commercialisation programme has supported early-stage businesses to explore new applications of virtual production, AI, and immersive storytelling.
- The upcoming CoSTAR PPP programme will see companies such as HoloEdge and Retinize develop new projects harnessing 5G connectivity – part of Belfast’s designation as a 5G Innovation Region.
- Research teams at Ulster University will also drive impact through ongoing R&D, targeting £179.5m in research income and contributing internationally recognised REF results by 2029.
This research agenda is supported by industry-academia knowledge exchange, training, and the delivery of new curricula in virtual production, embedding innovation across both practice and education.
Impact
The impact of Studio Ulster and CoSTAR will be transformative:
- Jobs and growth: hundreds of new jobs, productivity levels 30% above the NI average, and a total GVA uplift of over £614m projected.
- Skills and talent: 24 PhDs, 25 Masters students per year, new Virtual Production curricula, CPD courses, summer schools, and 150 school engagement sessions to inspire future generations.
- Innovation and investment: at least two spin-outs, £6.1m in knowledge exchange activity, and inward investment from global companies attracted to NI’s state-of-the-art facilities.
- Sustainability: carbon reductions of up to 50% per production, ethical supply chains, and circular economy practices.
By delivering outstanding research, facilities, and training, Studio Ulster and CoSTAR will ensure Northern Ireland is not only a global hub for screen production but also a recognised leader in creative innovation.
Professor Declan Keeney, Chief Executive of Studio Ulster and Director of CoSTAR Screen Lab:
“Studio Ulster and CoSTAR represent a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform Northern Ireland’s creative industries. By bringing together world-class facilities, pioneering research, and a strong skills pipeline, we are creating an ecosystem that will attract global productions, deliver sustainable innovation, and unlock opportunities for our local talent and businesses.”
Professor Frank Lyons, SRO of Studio Ulster, Co-Director of CoSTAR Screen Lab, and Associate Dean of Research and Innovation (Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences) at Ulster University:
“With Studio Ulster and CoSTAR, Ulster University is positioning Northern Ireland at the forefront of research and innovation in the creative industries. Our ambition is to deliver world-leading research and foster industry partnerships that fuel the growth of our screen sector and demonstrate to the world how Northern Ireland’s creative sector can drive inclusive, sustainable economic impact on a global scale.”
