Friday, 18 March 2005

Following the preliminary meeting at Zapera’s premises in Copenhagen, December 2004, invitations have now been sent out for the formal foundation of NORF – Nordic Online Research Forum. The meeting will be hosted by NORSTAT in Oslo on April 5th.

At the Copenhagen meeting it was decided that the Nordic Online Research Forum should have two general functions:

First, it is meant to be a forum for practicians of online research to exchange new ideas, learnings and documentation (of both strengths and weaknesses). To this end NORF will be arranging meetings and conferences, and conducting a common program of documentation studies.

Second, the forum will play an important role in informing and educating the research buyers in the Nordic region. The forum will never recommend any one method or supplier, but rather describe the advantages/disadvantages of various methods of - for example - recruitment, field periods, etc. so buyers can evaluate what they buy and know which questions to ask suppliers.

Research Director, Mads Stenbjerre, Zapera says:

- “We had a very good and fruitful discussion in Copenhagen. We need this forum because online research is an exciting and growing area that attracts a lot of attention in the Nordic markets.”

The preliminary meeting in Copenhagen had participation of 8 people representing 6 of the leading online research institutes in Denmark and Sweden.

- “Unfortunately no Finns or Norwegians were able to participate at the Copenhagen meeting, even though the reaction to the initiative was very positive from invitees in these countries. This time I can personally guarantee Norwegian participation, and we also expect one or two Finnish participants”, says John Lauring Pedersen, Director at NORSTAT in Oslo, who will be hosting the founding meeting.

- “We find it important, that the Forum becomes pan-Nordic, since the Nordic countries, with its approximately 24 million inhabitants, has a unique position being among the countries in the world with the highest Internet penetration”, John Lauring Pedersen continues.

30 Nordic online research providers, have been invited for the founding meeting in Oslo.

NB! This Press Release is sent from Zapera, since Zapera has agreed to manage the secretariat functions up to the founding meeting. Future organisation of NORF will be decided at the Oslo meeting.

More information:

Research Director, Mads Stenbjerre, Zapera (Denmark), ms@zapera.com
Director John Lauring Pedersen, NORSTAT (Norway), john@norstat.no

Facts on the Nordic Online Research market:

In the Nordic region, online research still covers less than ten percent of the total research market (total market estimated to be approximately € 700 mio.). Over the coming years internet research (CAWI) is expected to grow tremendously, and the share of traditionally based research (CATI, CAPI etc.) will decline correspondingly.

In the USA, which is usually two to three years ahead of Europe, the online share now makes up approx. 30% of the total research market. Over the coming three to five years the online share is expected to make up one third of the Nordic market as well.

Abbreviations:

CAWI: Computer-Aided Web Interviewing

CATI: Computer-Aided Telephone Interviewing

CAPI: Computer-Aided Personal Interviewing