Bridging cultures to transform ideas into action – 11 February 2026

An academia-business networking event at Amazon UK HQ 

Join us for a unique opportunity to create connections, spark ideas and lay the foundations for meaningful, long-term professional relationships. This informal event is designed to demystify the workplace cultures of academia and industry and provide an opportunity for knowledge exchange in a supportive environment between academic researchers and Amazon employees.  

Location: Amazon UK Headquarters, Shoreditch, London  

Date: Wednesday 11 February 2026 13:00-16:00

    • Including optional tour of the building at 11:30

Audience: Doctoral and early-career researchers from the University of Exeter (no prior industry experience required)

This event is for University of Exeter researchers only 

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Why attend?

For University of Exeter researchers: 

If you’re a researcher keen to explore industry engagement, this event is a welcoming opportunity to visit a company workplace, build connections and explore pathways to transform your research into action.  

  • Understand the innovation process and support structures of a multinational technology company 
  • Gain experience in communicating your research with industry professionals 
  • Learn how to navigate industry environments and explore paths to possible collaboration 
  • Develop mutually beneficial relationships that support your career and professional growth 

For Amazon employees: 

If you are interested in demystifying research practices, this event will connect you with PhD and early-career researchers eager to share their experiences and build mutually beneficial relationships. 

  • Demystify academic research and discover new perspectives 
  • Understand university culture including how to navigate typical research processes 
  • Explore how academic expertise can support innovation and problem-solving 
  • Build sustainable connections with emerging research talent 

Expect structured informality: 

  • An introduction to university and industry workplace cultures, approaches to research and innovation processes  
  • Relaxed one-to-one conversations that encourage curiosity and cultural knowledge exchange 
  • Facilitated round table discussions exploring innovation themes in: 
    • AI, and data 
    • Innovation insights  
    • Research – industry culture exchange  

An in-person ‘Communicating research beyond academia’ workshop will be offered to all researchers prior to the event. This will develop skills in identifying areas for collaboration, crafting compelling narratives with clarity and will start to build a toolkit to effective jargon-free communication. 

Participation in the event is free and researcher travel costs to London will be covered (in line with the University of Exeter’s Travel Policy). 

These events are being piloted as part of the DBAA research project. People who choose to participate, will be asked to read a participant information sheet, sign a research consent form, and complete evaluation questionnaires before and after the sessions.