Good evening.
Distinguished guests, respected leaders of MRSI, members of the research and insights community, partners, friends, and award finalists,
It is truly an honour to be here with you in Mumbai for the 7th Edition of the MRSI Awards 2026.
Mumbai is a city that understands momentum, where enterprise, creativity, data, and ambition move at remarkable speed. It is therefore a fitting place to celebrate an industry that does exactly the same: an industry that transforms information into intelligence, intelligence into insight, and insight into impact and meaning for businesses and societies.
On behalf of ESOMAR, I would like to thank the MRSI for the warm welcome, for the partnership we share, and for the leadership you continue to provide to the Indian research and insights ecosystem.
These awards are not just a celebration of excellence; they are a reflection of how far this community has come, and where it is going next.
The relationship between ESOMAR and MRSI is not transactional. It is strategic. It is values-driven. And it is built on a shared belief that high-quality, ethical research is foundational to better decisions, stronger businesses, and healthier societies.
For many years now, ESOMAR and MRSI have worked closely, across ethical practices, advocacy, and thought leadership. Together, we have demonstrated that global standards and local leadership are not competing forces, but complementary strengths.
India is not merely participating in the global research ecosystem. India is shaping it. And MRSI has been instrumental in ensuring that this growth is grounded in professionalism, credibility, and responsibility.
One of the most tangible expressions of this partnership has been our collaborative work on the ESOMAR Code of Conduct which was renewed over the last couple of years and adopted by Esomar Members in June 2025.
Codes are sometimes seen as constraints. We see them differently. A strong Code of Conduct is an enabler of trust, trust between researchers and respondents, between clients and partners, and between our industry and the society it serves.
MRSI’s active engagement in adopting and promoting the ESOMAR Code within India has been invaluable. Your inputs have strengthened guidance on data quality, respondent rights, transparency, and increasingly, the responsible use of technology.
In a world where data is abundant but trust is fragile, this work is not optional. It is essential.
This leadership has been especially important as our industry navigates profound change.
In 2025, the industry adopted the new ICC/ESOMAR International Code of Conduct, a milestone that reflects how dramatically our operating environment has evolved.
Before we look specifically at trust, it’s important to step back and understand why self‑regulation is so essential for our industry in the first place.
There are five core reasons that really define its value.
- First, The entire research and insights ecosystem depends on trust: trust from citizens who share their data, trust from clients who rely on our evidence, trust from policymakers, and trust from society at large. Self‑regulation is the mechanism that allows us to sustain and demonstrate that trust consistently.
- Second, self‑regulation protects citizens and data subjects. It ensures that ethical principles apply even in areas where the law is not yet clear or up‑to‑date. It’s how we make sure participation is respectful, consent is meaningful, vulnerable groups are treated carefully, and data is used responsibly.
- Third, strong self‑regulation helps prevent overregulation. When an industry shows it can govern itself credibly and transparently, regulators are far less likely to step in with restrictive rules. In other words, responsible behaviour buys us the freedom to operate.
- Fourth, self‑regulation gives us agility. Our industry evolves faster than legislation ever can, whether it’s AI, synthetic data, new collection technologies, or new analytical methods. Standards, codes, and industry‑driven governance can adapt quickly and provide guidance where no legal framework yet exists?
- 5. Researchers have the overall responsibility and oversight for the research they undertake, irrespective of the method, technique and technology applied. Those who contribute to the research have a degree of responsibility commensurate with their activities, expertise and control.MRSI’s role in supporting awareness, adoption, and interpretation of this new Code within India has been exemplary. You have ensured that innovation does not outpace responsibility and that progress does not come at the cost of trust.
That commitment to quality and ethics is clearly reflected in India’s position in the ESOMAR Global Market Research report.
India today stands among the most significant research and insights markets globally not only in terms of scale, but in capability. India is a centre of excellence for analytics, advanced methodologies, AI-enabled research, and global delivery.
According to the Esomar Global Market Research 2025 Report India’s research and insights industry continues to demonstrate robust double-digit growth reaching a market size of 2,7 billion USD in 2024 with a 11,7% increase.
But beyond numbers and rankings, what stands out is something deeper: India’s growing influence on how research is done, how innovation is applied, and how insight functions are integrated into business strategy.
The Indian research community is no longer just responding to global demand, it is helping define global best practice.
Why does all of this matter?
It matters because research and insights shape real-world outcomes.
They inform billion-dollar investments.
They influence public policy.
They guide product innovation.
They help organisations understand people, not as data points, but as humans with needs, values, and expectations.
In times of volatility and uncertainty, insights provide clarity. In moments of disruption, they provide direction. And in an era of automation, they provide judgement.
The organisations being recognised tonight have demonstrated this impact, by helping businesses grow responsibly, by enabling smarter decisions, and by proving that insight is not a cost centre, but a strategic asset.
At ESOMAR, we are very conscious that the future of our profession is being reshaped by technology, especially artificial intelligence.
AI is not a future trend. It is a present reality. And it sits at the heart of ESOMAR’s 2030 strategy.
Our AI pillar is built on three core principles:
- Responsible adoption – ensuring AI enhances, rather than undermines, research integrity
- Human oversight – recognising that insight requires context, ethics, and critical thinking
- Capability building – equipping professionals with the skills to use AI effectively and wisely.
AI can accelerate analysis, unlock new data sources, and scale insight in extraordinary ways. But without governance, without standards, and without skilled professionals, it can just as easily erode confidence.
This is why our collaboration with associations like the MRSI is so vital. Together, we ensure that innovation remains aligned with values.
This shared commitment to the future is also why I am delighted to highlight the work currently in progress on a joint ESOMAR–MRSI event on AI and technology in 2027.
This will not be just another conference.
It will be a platform for:
- Deep dialogue between researchers, technologists, and business leaders
- Practical guidance on applying AI responsibly in research and insights
- Global and regional perspectives coming together to shape what’s next.
By co-creating this event, ESOMAR and MRSI are sending a clear signal: the future of insights will be collaborative, global, and grounded in ethics.
And that brings us to tonight.
The MRSI Awards are not only about recognising outstanding work. They are about celebrating the spirit of collaboration that defines this profession.
Behind every award-winning project is a team.
Behind every innovation is a partnership.
Behind every insight is a commitment to quality and integrity.
Tonight, we celebrate organisations and individuals who have raised the bar, not just for India, but for the global research community.
You remind us that excellence is intentional. It is disciplined. And it is shared.
As we open the 7th Edition of the MRSI Awards 2026, let us take pride in what has been achieved, but remain ambitious about what lies ahead.
Let us continue to:
- Champion ethical standards
- Embrace innovation with responsibility
- Strengthen collaboration across borders
- And ensure that research and insights remain a force for positive impact.
On behalf of ESOMAR, I thank the MRSI for its partnership, its leadership, and its unwavering commitment to the profession.
Congratulations to all the finalists.
Best wishes to all the winners.
And thank you for allowing me to be part of this important celebration.
Thank you.
