On a recent swing through London to visit some of our Profound customers, we heard a concern voiced that we’d not heard before. People seemed to be concerned about the state of research in general; that as we emerge from a time of vast and rapid transformation, the research community needs to take stock globally to make sure that we haven’t lost something. Or, at least, we must ensure that if we have lost something, we get it back.

Looking toward the future of any industry is like watching a race, each company attempting to leverage the latest trends to gain an advantage over the competition. Thus, adaptability and economic mobility are key. In a recent blog post published on GreenBook Blog, author Kristof De Wulf, CEO of InSites Consulting, analyzes how the market research industry is adjusting to the ever-changing economic climate. In doing so, De Wulf determined "4 possible strategic directions" market research may take over the coming years. Understanding these projected market research trends will be critical in allowing your company to fully leverage its business intelligence resources.

One element contributing to the global spread of Internet connectivity and usage is the growth of online gaming. Mobile games, in particular, are the fastest growing segment of the gaming market as smartphone and tablet owners are using their devices for game-playing on the Internet, increasingly more than desktops and consoles. Gaming through social networks is also taking up an increasing share of the total video gaming market. Both segments are expected to increase by around +20% annually, leading the growth in the overall online gaming market.

The market for stem cell products and technologies is a rapidly evolving industry, largely because stem cells are a relatively recent, yet highly lucrative, discovery. While the first mouse embryonic stem cells were derived from embryos in 1981, it was not until 1995 that the first successful culturing of embryonic stem cells from non-human primates occurred and not until November 1998 that a technique was developed to isolate and grow embryonic stem cells from human blastocysts. In 2006, induced pluripotent stem cells were produced for the first time from mouse cells, and, in 2007, they were produced from human cells. Furthermore, it was not until 2008 that the first full transplant of a human organ grown from adult stem cells was performed when a section of a trachea was transplanted into a woman in Spain.

Market Research is a large, but critical, investment for a business, and, as with any substantial purchase, you will probably want to ensure that you fully understand exactly what you're buying. Because there are many intricacies to finding and buying the right market research report or solution for your needs, you're going to have questions. So, we have compiled a list of some of the most frequently asked questions customers have when purchasing market research. With these common questions answered, you will be well on your way to landing the perfect report.

Cord blood banking is a profitable and rapidly growing industry. Ten years ago, there were only 23 cord blood banks worldwide; now, there are nearly 500, a 21-fold increase (2,100%) in the companies involved in the industry over the past decade. This rate of growth has generated enormous interest in the industry from venture capital funds, investment banks, and even individual investors, including Richard Branson—the billionaire business magnate and investor who now owns the Virgin Health Bank as one of his portfolio companies.

The key metrics, among others, that investors must know in order to profit from the cord blood banking sector are the current and historical market penetration rates. As the global leader in cord blood industry data, BioInformant was recently asked by the Wall Street Journal (a major U.S. news outlet) to provide data on market penetration rates for U.S. private cord blood banking since 2004, a 10-year historical analysis. Because this is a powerful question and the answer reveals critical market data, BioInformant is also sharing the findings with our readers.

Let’s dig into the numbers…

When you look at the top food trends that are being portrayed and even hyped in the media, it’s easy to get lost in the maze of what is and is not viable.  But, those in food research roles must be able to use their expertise and data-driven insights to vet food trends and find success (here, we are speaking not only of actual trends about food products but also culinary trends and techniques). This is because emerging food trends with great potential can be transformed into big business opportunities.

BioInformant Worldwide, L.L.C., is the global leader in stem cell industry data. As a specialty research company, BioInformant uses technology to track and identify profitable opportunities within the stem cell sector and provide this data to clients pursuing aggressive growth.

BioInformant is the only market intelligence company that has specifically served the stem cell sector since it emerged, and its singular focus allows its team of technology specialists, business analysts and scientific experts to produce data that enables company decision-makers to better understand their markets, competitors and customers.

Deciding which market research report will be the best fit for your research needs can seem like an overwhelming task. With several, hundreds, or even thousands of relevant reports to choose from, depending on your industry size and level of topic specificity, how do you know which one to pick? At first glance, some reports may seem too similar to even matter which you choose. However, every market research publisher and analyst bring something different to the table. So, it is important to understand which aspects of a report are most influenced by those that produce it.

While much is spoken of mobile Internet's impact on various industries, the distinction is rarely made between smartphones and tablets. In online retail, the M-Commerce sector is usually referred to in general terms; however, all the market players involved should clearly understand the difference between the two and what implication this distinction has for their businesses.