PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, 18 November 2004

During the last 5-8 years a new emerging research method, has slowly, but surely, redefined the world of consumer research. Online Panel based Research, or CAWI, is the new word in town.

Well-established data collection methods like CATI and Postal collection, are under severe pressure as the presence of Online Internet based research is moving rapidly forward, hand in hand with the growing numbers of persons using the Internet. Here the Nordic countries have a unique position being among the countries in the world with the highest Internet penetration (+70%).

In the Nordic region it is likely, that Online Research in 2004 will account for 5% of total research spending (total market estimated to be approx. € 700 mio.). To put this in perspective the same figure is expected to be in excess of 25% in the US, up from 15.4% in 2003, according to Inside Research/Esomar!

Managing Director, Lars Lund-Nielsen, Zapera says:

- “Zapera has been among the pioneers in pushing online research in the Nordic region for the last 5 years. We believe that it would be of great value to all Nordic Online suppliers and the market in general, if an independent Nordic Forum to discuss Online issues of common interest is established. Together online providers with own access panels will appear stronger if such a forum exists!”

All Nordic institutes with access panels invited

Therefore Zapera has taken initiative to establish such a forum, and has sent out invitations for an inaugural meeting in Copenhagen on December 15th 2004. The invitations are followed by a reference to an online survey of present and future interest in the forum, and if the result is positive Zapera will also coordinate with the national associations of research institutes in the Nordic countries.

Research Director, Mads Stenbjerre, Zapera says:

- “We hope this could be the start of a unique forum of online experts, across borders, setting the agenda in the Nordic region for future online and panel questions.”

- “All 30 Nordic online research providers with own access panels, that we are aware of, has been invited. More can follow since our colleagues in the Nordic countries has been requested to supplement the list if required.”

Agenda not yet decided

There is not yet decided on an agenda for such a preliminary meeting, nor has any other details been determined, but we would find it appropriate if the forum could be assembled 4 times a year (1 in each Nordic country quarterly) for a full day conference.

It is our intention, subject to the nature of the participants (i.e. line of business and areas of interest), to have 2 (or maybe more) workgroups during the conference

· One group could discuss areas of business/commercial interest

· One group could discuss topics such as research method, quality, panel management etc.

After the group sessions we would gather again and try to summarize.

The Nordic region covers Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland with a total population of approx. 24 million people.

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More information:

Managing Director Lars Lund-Nielsen, mobile: (+45) 4080 8040, mail: lln@zapera.com

Research Director Mads Stenbjerre, mobile: (+45) 2673 0696, mail: ms@zapera.com

Facts on Zapera:

Zapera is the Nordic market research institute most experienced in data collection via the Internet. Since the beginning of 2000 the company has carried out more than 2,500 surveys, asked more than 200,000 questions and received more than 50 million responses. Zapera consist of 30 people dedicated to online research with offices in Copenhagen and Stockholm.

The business model is Internet-based market research. In this context Zapera has, over the years, accumulated a large Nordic panel, which today comprises more than 80,000 consumers. Thus the panel can be used to carry out every type of survey requiring representativity relative to the traditional demographic variables.

Abbreviations:

CAWI: Computer-Aided Web Interviewing

CATI: Computer-Aided Telephone Interviewing

Esomar: The World Association of Opinion and Marketing Research Professionals. Founded in 1948 as the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research.