Promoting data, research and insights in service of important societal challenges.
“CALL FOR ENTRIES"
What is TCP (The Community Program)
- ESOMAR globally runs a program called The Research Got Talent (RGT) wherein young researchers demonstrate great research methodologies to address socially relevant issues encountered by charities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
- RGT initiative is run at the country association level, under the global umbrella. In India, the program is referred to as The Community Program (TCP).
- The Community Program (TCP) aims
- To encourage the participation of young researchers in practical market research projects;
- To highlight and showcase the positive impact of market research in tackling social issues and engaging a wide variety of stakeholders.
- The winners of the TCP will get to present their project at the ESOMAR Congress in 2026
Eligibility Criteria:
1. As the initiative focuses particularly on young market researchers and students between 18 and 35 years of age. Anyone within this age bracket may participate.
2. 1 finalist per country for RGT
3. Submissions must be research projects which will be taken up specifically for this project that have been conducted within the preceding 6 months. If any researcher is already working on any such pro-bono work with any NGO prior to this notice from MRSI on TCP 2025, such projects can also be submitted to MRSI for confirmation. However, the inception of such project must have been started and completed in the year 2025. MRSI at its own discretion may confirm or reject such submissions.
4. The NGO must necessarily be registered on the NGO Darpan portal and should be minimum of 5 years into operations.
5. An organization can have more than 1 submission per topic chosen.
6. Can be an individual researcher or a team of researchers working on the project. However if the project were to be the ONE chosen as the winner entry for RGT, the number of people from the team allowed for the ESOMAR Insights Festival will be limited to 1.
The Theme for 2025-2026:
The overarching theme of the Global Research Got Talent initiative is The Role of Market Research and Insights in supporting Charities/Non-Profits in overcoming relevant and meaningful social issues. This will be the theme against which all submitted research projects will be assessed. Some indicative examples are as per below:
- Gender equality
- Access to justice
- Access to education
- Improving the lives of persons with disabilities
- Improving the lives of children
- Environmental & Climate change
- Sustainability
- Integration and diversity
NOTE :
1. This list is non-exhaustive, and each participating researcher may choose a theme or social issue to focus on depending on the local context and priorities, so long as it fits with the wider global competition theme (in italics/bold) above.
2. Should the participating researchers decide to address any other social issues which are not included in this list, this can be done as long as it is made clear to the MRSI.
How the TCP works:
- Young research professionals and students (upto 35 years of age) working with MRSI member companies can participate in this program and propose/pitch solutions for the challenges based on the RGT Theme.
- Young research professionals must choose one challenge among the ones shortlisted and respond to the brief with a written approach note detailing how they would address the needs and submit the same to MRSI.
- MRSI will set up a team of senior industry professionals along with the representative of the partner organizations (the TCP panel) who will then evaluate the various applications and select a couple of applications that have the most promising submissions.
- The researchers will need to complete the study in the stipulated time and make a presentation to the TCP jury panel.
- The participating Charity / NGO organizations will end up with actionable insights for them to carry forward their work to the community.
- The TCP winner’s entry will be nominated by MRSI to compete globally at ESOMAR’s Research Got Talent.
Submission Dates:
Entry Opens: 23rd June 2025
Entry Closes: 6th July 2025
Rules and Guidelines:
1. This Award will be given to the submission that best demonstrates the impact of research on decision-making within, and understanding of the issues relating to, the public policy or social arena.
2. The judges will be looking for sound case studies which show a strong connection between the research and the outcomes.
3. To win this Award your submission must show that research is based on sound technique and method, and you will need to clearly demonstrate how the research has contributed to decision-making on the issues involved.
4. There is a maximum of 1000 words per entry and the submission should include the following:
a) A brief summary of the project’s objectives and methodology
b) Research outcomes
c) Evidence of the success of the project and
d) Any other details that make this research endeavor “above & beyond" the norm.
5. Entries must not overtly ‘sell’ any organization. Company logos are acceptable.
6. The primary contact must ensure that permission to enter the TCP challenge is obtained from all parties involved including your company head / clients and/or any suppliers.
7. Receipt of entries will be acknowledged by a simple email confirmation, if you do not receive this email within 3 days of applying, please email info@mrsi.co.in
8. No materials will be returned; however, they will be securely destroyed after the Awards ceremony.
9. MRSI reserves the right to re-assign an entry to another category if it is deemed more appropriate.
10. The judges’ decisions are final. The Judging Panel will not enter into correspondence about why an entry is not selected as a finalist.
11. All submission materials will remain confidential to the Judging Panels and MRSI during the judging process. We may subsequently wish to publish case studies based on the materials provided; specific permission to publish will always be sought from entrants.
Important Dates:
| 1 | Announcement of shortlisted entries | 11th July 2025 |
| 2 | Submission deadline Proposal | 10th August 2025 |
| 3 | Announcement of selected proposals | 25th August 2025 |
| 4 | Researcher Briefing for selected proposals | 29th August 2025 |
| 5 | Commencement of fieldwork & reporting | Early Sept - mid November 2025 |
| 6 | Report Submissions | 1st week December 2025 |
| 7 | Presentation to Jury Panel | week of 5th January 2026 |
| 8 | Announcement of TCP25-26 Winner | week of 19th January 2026 |
| 9 | Submission of the winner video to ESOMAR | week of 9th February 2026 |