AHRC CoSTAR Satellite North East Lab

Purpose

On behalf of the University of Sunderland, Innovation Catalyst was commissioned to design, develop and produce a North East-based live performance and audience testbed demonstration project anchored in Sunderland with public and private sector partners for the £2m AHRC CoSTAR Satellite funding call.

Solution

Working with regional public, private and VCSE partners, including Glasshouse International Centre for Music, the North East MSA, Northumbria University, The Fire Station, FilmNova and Sunderland City Council to provide bid development leadership over a 4-week period, including leveraging £1m in co-investment funding from external partners.

Impact

The research grant was submitted in October 2026 and the consortium awaits the outcome from the AHRC.

Client
University of Sunderland

Year
2026

“Innovation Catalyst was brought in against a tight deadline to lead a complex AHRC funding bid requiring significant match funding and extensive partner engagement. Ben provided clear, informed advice to draw out the strengths of our proposal. His responsiveness, expertise and proactive approach were instrumental. The result was a very strong bid which would not have been possible without Ben's work and support.”

Professor Ben Middleton, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Faculty of Education, Society and Creative Industries, University of Sunderland