The yearly ESOMAR world congress is fast approaching. For a number of years, we have provided the fastest, largest and most edgy coverage of this mega-event. Thanks to our good cooperation with software provider Dapresy, Athens 2010 will be no exception.
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When the world and the greeks realised during spring this year that the country was on the brink of bankruptcy, word got around that ESOMAR once again would have to move a major event, just as Kuala Lumpur with short notice had to arrange the Asia-Pacific conference intended for Bangkok. But Greece is not Thailand, even if the two countries share a fantastic sense of hospitality and love for visitors. Greeks don't mind going on strike and taking to the street to protest, but they continue to be good and peaceful hosts. So with less than a month ago, the congress is still going to take place in lovely, mad, polluted, beautiful, crowded, charming Athens.
Within the safe walls of the Athens Hilton, we will of course experience nothing of the real city (just to make sure I get my share of the rumble, I have booked a hotel right off Syntagma square, within walking distance of the congress). Everything will be as usual, which in the case of ESOMAR in recent years actually means quite a few novelties. The most noticeable is that the congress starts on a Tuesday and only lasts for two days. If the attendance stays at the low level it reached last year in Montreux, this will be quite enough to meet everyone worth meeting, but it could still be pretty hectic, with almost no unscheduled time at all.
Research Idol has changed name to Research Superstar, but we are still convinced that the winner of the Swedish qualifying round, Richard Caspar from United Minds, stands a fair chance of grabbing the overall title. The semifinal round is late Tuesday afternoon and the final round will be settled in a plenary session Wednesday the 15th of September, 13.30.
Among the 51 exhibitors who have signed up so far, we find only four "Scandinavian" companies: Cint, iMotions, Confirmit and Tobii. I wonder if we can even call them Scandinavian any more, the way these companies have spread globally in recent years. It will be nice to meet them anyhow.
In the "participating companies" league, Sweden currently leads with eight entries over Denmarks five and Norways two, but a lot can happen in the four weeks remaining to the event.
Some things of course stay the same. Cint is once again one of the main sponsors and I would be surprised if they don't arrange once again one of their notorious parties (see the section on "no unscheduled time" above - not even the nights). The programme committee is as always strong. We are particularly glad to see two of our long-standing favourites in it: Fiona Blades and Niels Schillewaert. Only drawback: this means they won't be speaking themselves! Luckily enough Niels' colleague Annelies Verhaeghe, last years Young Researcher of the Year and one of the highlights of the Swedish Market Research Day, will speak, as will David Smith, Hy Mariampolski, Kristin Hickey, John Kearon, Neil McPhee, Ray Poynter, Tom De Ruyck and many more great people. Wait a minute: Niels Schillewaert is indeed on the speakers list. This is truly going to be a great congress, believe me.
In case you will rely on us for your congress information instead of going to Greece in person, please do us a favour. Visit www.esomar.org, check out what you find particularly interesting and tell us about it so we can cover it for you. Email henrik@smrn.se before September 10.
Henrik Hall
SMRN