The ODDA Research Hub | Founding Event

You are cordially invited to: 
The ODDA Research Hub | Founding Event

Industry and academia, together for the first time.

We are delighted to invite you to the founding event of the ODDA Research Hub, a significant moment for the online dating and social discovery sector.

The Research Hub brings together academics, researchers, and ODDA member platforms to help build an independent and credible research agenda grounded in the real challenges platforms face every day.

This invitation-only gathering marks the beginning of that collaboration, creating a shared space for dialogue, research development, and cross-sector partnership.

Date: 24 June 2026
Time: 13:30 to 17:00 BST
Venue: Virtual event, broadcast live from King’s College London

Agenda
13:30 to 13:45 – Welcome and introductions
13:45 to 14:00 – Overview of the ODDA Research Hub
14:00 to 14:30 – Industry presentations by member platforms
14:30 to 15:30 – Academic presentations by invited researchers
15:30 to 15:45 – Comfort break
15:45 to 16:45 – Facilitated roundtables (breakout rooms)
16:45 to 17:00 – Roundtable feedback and closing remarks

What We Aim to Achieve
1. Collectively identify one or two priority research areas where the sector would benefit from greater independent evidence.
2. Explore the challenges and opportunities surrounding ethical data sharing between platforms and academic researchers.
3. Begin building the relationships and collaborative pathways that will support ongoing industry and academia engagement through the Research Hub.

Virtual Participation

Although the event is being live streamed from King’s College London, online participants will be able to actively participate throughout the afternoon. During the facilitated roundtable session, virtual attendees will join moderated breakout rooms to discuss the same questions and themes being explored by in-person participants. Insights from both in-person and virtual discussions will contribute to the closing roundtable feedback session and help inform the future direction of the Research Hub.

We look forward to welcoming you to what promises to be an important and collaborative milestone for the sector.

Please confirm your place by registering via the event booking link on this page, by Tuesday 16 June 2026.