Two collaborative research projects involving the Bureau of Market Research receive prestigious international recognition for consumer insight and research impact.
The Bureau of Market Research (BMR) has strengthened its international research credentials following the recognition of two collaborative research projects, undertaken with Momentum Group, at the 2026 ESOMAR Awards, announced at the ESOMAR Congress in Valencia, Spain.
The recognition places research involving the BMR on an international professional platform and provides an independent affirmation of the quality, relevance and impact of the Bureau’s applied business and consumer research.
Why ESOMAR Recognition Matters
ESOMAR is one of the world’s foremost international organisations for the data, research and insights profession, bringing together a global community committed to advancing high-quality, ethical and impactful research. The ESOMAR Awards recognise outstanding achievements across the international research and insights profession, including consumer insights, research impact, methodological innovation, artificial intelligence, qualitative research and social impact.
Receiving recognition through the ESOMAR Awards extends beyond technically sound research. It acknowledges work that advances understanding, challenges conventional thinking and demonstrates the ability of evidence and insight to influence real-world decisions and business success.
Two Award-Winning Collaborative Projects
The first award recognised the collaborative Advice project in the category:
Outstanding Contribution to Consumer Insights – Regional Middle East & Africa
The Advice Advantage: Reframing Advice as a Strategic Growth Capability
Research partners: Momentum Group and Bureau of Market Research
The collaborative Emerging Market project was recognised in the category:
Research Impact Award – Regional Middle East & Africa
Understanding the Emerging Market and Their Unmet Needs
Research partners: Momentum Group, Bureau of Market Research and Alltold
Both projects demonstrate an approach to research that extends beyond data collection and reporting towards the generation of actionable insights capable of supporting strategic decision-making.
Momentum Group specifically acknowledged the BMR team’s contribution to challenging existing thinking, exploring complex questions and connecting research insights with meaningful business action.
Recognising BMR Research Excellence
Ms Jacolize Meiring and Prof CJ van Aardt were instrumental in the BMR’s contribution to both award-winning projects. Their work combined research expertise and analytical rigour with close client engagement and the translation of complex findings into strategically relevant insights.
BMR Chief Executive Officer, Prof Deon Tustin, described the achievement as an important affirmation of the Bureau’s research capabilities: “International recognition through the ESOMAR Awards demonstrates that research involving the BMR can stand alongside leading work within the global research and insights profession. It affirms our commitment to research that is not only methodologically rigorous, but capable of generating meaningful strategic and business impact.”
He further recognised the contribution of the BMR researchers involved: “We are exceptionally proud of Ms Jacolize Meiring and Prof CJ van Aardt. Their expertise, intellectual commitment and engagement with Momentum Group was instrumental in these projects. This achievement demonstrates what can be accomplished when rigorous research is combined with genuine collaboration and a shared determination to translate evidence into insight and insight into action.”
“In BMR we have found a research partner who understands our need to better service our clients in the various communities in which we operate. Research and data driven insight can be a significant differentiator in the highly competitive financial services sector. We are incredibly proud to have commissioned and to be associated with global award-winning research. We congratulate Ms Meiring and Prof Van Aardt on delivering work that has been held up to global scrutiny and has delivered the resulting recognition”, says Monique Schehle (Insights Lead: Strategy & Planning, Momentum Group).
South African Research With International Impact
The recognition is significant for the BMR, its corporate members and research partners, as well as the broader University of South Africa (UNISA) academic and research community. It demonstrates the ability of South African researchers and research institutions to contribute to internationally recognised work while addressing practical questions facing businesses and consumers in African markets. The awards also reinforce the BMR’s distinctive position at the intersection of academic research, applied market intelligence and strategic decision support. Through partnerships with organisations such as Momentum Group, the BMR continues to pursue research that is academically credible, methodologically rigorous, commercially relevant and capable of creating measurable impact.