Global Research Business Network Partnership
The role of national associations
National associations have been developed by research businesses over the last 70 years. They represent a multi-generational commitment by research businesses to co-operate to promote and advance the business of research.
National associations deliver training, organise conferences, collect statistics, and make representations on behalf of those businesses. They also provide compliance structures supported by established codes of conduct and are a repository of expertise on national legislation, culture and customs. These associations are an established network linking researchers, clients and other stakeholders including regulators and legislators.
Supporting and defending self regulation
The research sector is based on national markets. This is how research businesses organise themselves and how law and regulation is currently applied. The basis therefore of any successful self-regulation regime must be strong national associations. We recognise that these associations do not yet exist in all markets, and existing self-regulation can be improved. However where self-regulation is done well, it is done nationally. This is possible because:
- There is certainty as to how the rules applied would be considered by a court in that jurisdiction should a legal dispute arise.
- There is certainty as to the procedural requirements for a disciplinary case to be considered fair (e.g. under Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights).
- There are good relationships with other regulators, such as data protection authorities or ombudsmen who would otherwise intervene in the absence of self-regulation.
- It allows the concerns of citizens to be addressed in their own language and with their national standards of professionalism and decency applied.
Strong voices advancing standards and influencing policy
The voice of industry is critical in the determination of legislation and regulations and the maintenance of self-regulation; commerce; standards-setting; business ethics, practice and management, and client service. National associations often establish business processes and practices for the industry that become commonly-accepted. They also develop best practices and apply auditing and certification procedures as a quality assurance credential for a business, like ISO.
Research should not be represented by a single voice, but rather, when the occasion requires, by a choir of many voices. Researchers need and deserve strong voices at every level, locally, nationally, regionally and globally. The same message will not always be delivered, because of the nuance of language, custom and culture, but those messages should be co-ordinated and informed by experience gained by individuals, companies and associations.
The Global Research Business Network
The Global Research Business Network (GRBN) is the embodiment of an open and generous commitment by over 40 national associations and their regional federations to work more closely together to serve the research business community. It is not a new association or a further layer of bureaucracy.
GRBN is based on a three tiered structure of co-operation and mutual support:
- Research business supporting effective representation and self-regulation by strong national associations.
- National associations supporting effective autonomous regional federations by sharing information, pooling resources and co-ordinating action.
- Regional federations being outward looking towards a global network to represent the best overall interests of research.
Working with research businesses, GRBN will create national associations where there are none. We will nurture new or developing associations to help them serve the needs of their members. We will also reinvigorate established associations, challenging them to address emerging issues and to remain relevant to the business of research. This is a bottom-up approach focussed on maximizing effectiveness at the national and regional level, based on strong and effective national associations.
Join Us
To find out more visit our websites or contact us directly:
GRBN, the Global Research Business Network – www.grbn.org Contact: Andrew Cannon Andrew.cannon@grbn.org
APRC, the Asia Pacific Research Committee – www.aprc-research.com Contact: Elissa Molloy elissa@researchsociety.com.au
ARIA, the Americas Research Industry Alliance – www.aria-americas.org Contact: Alex Garnica alex.garnica@ariaalliance.org
EFAMRO, The European Research Federation – www.efamro.eu Contact: Andrew Cannon andrew.cannon@efamro.eu
AMRA the African federation https://africanmra.com/
Global Research Business Network Initiatives
Growing Membership
The second Association Leaders Online Event taking place on the 15th September at 8am EDT (New York time)* on the theme of An expanding sector: An opportunity for growing membership and increasing revenues, which we are undertaking in partnership with GRBN.
*Apologies if the time of the meeting is inconvenient, but we have tried our best to select a time which would allow for as many people as possible from all over the globe to attend.
This event is exclusively for senior management and board members of associations affiliated to GRBN either directly or through their membership of APRC, ARIA, EFAMRO or AMRA, and will be an opportunity for your management/board members to interact with, and learn from, their peers from around the world.
In order for us to manage the event efficiently, we kindly ask you to pre-register for the event by the 5th September.
Only APRC organisations are able to register via this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIsf-ChrTksGNO4hH8JLsZfmeqeJJUhAvPz
After registering, you will receive a confirmation containing information about joining the meeting.
We really hope you will be able to join this event, and if you have any questions about it, do not hesitate to contact me.
Elissa Molloy, APRC Secretariat
E-mail: elissa@researchsociety.com.au
Trust & Personal Data Survey
- How concerned are people about personal data misuse?
- Which types of organisations do people trust with their data? And which not?
- What types of data are considered to be most sensitive?
- How do these findings vary across the globe?
The GRBN has teamed up with Dapresy to give you access to an interactive dashboard highlighting the key findings, and enabling you to dig down deeper into the data. In addition, from this portal you may access a flipbook report or download the pdf report to read off-line.
To find out more about the survey, please contact GRBN at info@grbn.org
Professional Standards
Jointly developed guidelines
Global Guideline for Online Research published by ESOMAR and GRBN
Guideline for Online Sample Quality published by ESOMAR and GRBN
GRBN Mobile Research Guidelines
The GRBN Mobile Research Guidelines was developed with involvement from the member associations of the APRC, ARIA and EFAMRO Federations. Click here to download the GRBN Mobile Research Guidelines.