Attending Research and Development (R&D) focused market research events is an essential way to stay ahead of emerging trends, gain actionable insights, and refine your skills. There are lots of conferences to choose from this year, and you cannot attend them all – so how do you prioritise which ones are right for you?
Here’s our handpicked list of the must-attend global R&D events for market research professionals in 2025.
When we are thinking about which events we’d like to go to we determine what value it will bring, by looking at whether it would be truly insightful and inspiring, whether it would give us opportunity to showcase our knowledge and expertise, how easily we can network to meet new people and old friends, and if it will allow us to compete and be present alongside our competitors. You may be thinking along these lines too, but there are also many other factors that come into play, when prioritising which events to attend:
- What do you hope to gain, and what would make it valuable to you?
- What are your budget limitations? Do you want a ticket to attend or are you looking for sponsorship or exhibit opportunities?
- Do you want to attend to learn, or attend to raise brand awareness? A lot of people want a good balance of both, with a focus on learning.
- Where are your location preferences – do you want to stick to what you know or go to new parts of the world?
- Do you have available personnel to attend? Can you afford for these people to be away from the office? Do you have a budget for travel and accommodation expenditure?
Each event requires significant thought, investment, and preparation. We know that these events are brilliant for meeting new people and catching up with old friends. For most, it’s about learning and being inspired – we think this is the biggest draw.
We hope this guide gives you food for thought and helps you make informed decisions, based on your own priorities and objectives.
From conferences to expos and workshops, these gatherings are your gateway to discovering innovations, exploring new methodologies, and networking with industry pioneers. Stay at the forefront of market research with this comprehensive guide to 2025’s top events.
Top Global Market Research Events and Conferences in 2025
February
February 26-27th, Quirk’s Event in Los Angeles. A two-day conference bringing together client-side researchers and vendor partners to explore the latest methodologies, case studies, and technological advancements in market research. The diverse sessions and networking opportunities can provide valuable insights to keep you informed and inspired.
Despite the recent horrendous fires in LA, this event is still going ahead and if LA is the location for you, they’re currently offering a discounted rate to attend!
March
March 11th, MRS Annual Conference in London. This event showcases how research and insights empower brands to navigate complexity, adapt, and stay relevant. Keep on top of emerging trends, gain practical knowledge to apply, and contribute to shaping the future of market research.
We will be attending this event, and we really look forward to it every year. We are proud corporate partners of the Market Research Society, and whilst we would recommend becoming a partner if you’re not already, you don’t have to be members to benefit from their annual conference and wide range of other in-person and online events. We hope to see you there!
April
April 2-3rd, Quirk’s Event in Chicago. The 2nd event in the year hosted by Quirks – a two-day conference to explore all aspects of marketing research. The diverse sessions and networking opportunities are set to provide valuable insights to inform and enhance research and development initiatives.
We are a big fan of Quirks in the US, if this is the location for you – you are likely to come away buzzing with insights and new contacts.
April 30 – May 1st, IIEX North America in Washington DC. This event gathers industry visionaries, brand leaders, and innovators in market research. The conference emphasises networking, collaboration, and actionable strategies to reduce costs, increase the speed of insights, and deliver greater business value.
The programme for this event looks very interesting with some very high-profile speakers to inspire you. According to IIEX 91% of attendees have used takeaways from this event to influence strategic decisions.
May
May 7-8th, Quirk’s Event in London. It’s 3rd event of the year, gathering client-side researchers and vendor partners together to explore all aspects of marketing research featuring concurrent tracks of 30-minute sessions, and a lively Expo Hall in the centre of the action.
We will be attending this event which promises to be inclusive and collaborative with ample networking opportunities, in a fun and insightful environment amongst like-minded research industry peers.
May 19-21st, Front-End Innovation in Boston. FEI brings together corporate innovators, product developers, designers, and strategists. It provides opportunities to learn from industry leaders, engage in collaborative discussions, and discover methodologies that can enhance product development and market research initiatives.
We are keen to attend this year, it feels very R&D focused but comes at a price! It’s a great location in the US and we are keen to explore this event in more detail. Let us know if you’re planning to be there!
May 21-23rd, R&D Innovation & Product Development World Summit in Boston. This summit gathers R&D experts to share insights on process improvement techniques, change management, and strategies to reduce costs while anticipating market and customer needs.
For R&D professionals, attending this summit offers hands-on learning through case studies and workshops, exposure to state-of-the-art topics, and targeted networking opportunities with industry leaders, all of which can enhance your ability to develop agile, customer-responsive, and profitable strategies in a competitive environment.
June
June 17-18th, IIEX Europe in Amsterdam. Bringing together research technology innovators, brand experts, and marketing leaders to explore the latest advancements in market research, analytics, and insights. It offers opportunities to engage in roundtables and hands-on demos, enhancing your ability to drive innovation and maintain a competitive edge in the industry.
IIEX have just extended their early bird ticket prices through to the end of February, so if this is the event for you, there’s still time to save some money, and attend this popular conference in Amsterdam.
July
July 23-24th, Quirks Event in New York. The final event in the year hosted by Quirks, bringing together client-side researchers and vendor partners to explore all aspects of marketing research. The diverse sessions and networking opportunities can provide valuable insights to inform and enhance research and development initiatives.
We are planning to attend Quirks in New York – it’ll be a new event for us to explore and we’re really excited about it. Let us know if you’re planning to attend – it would be great to see you there!
August
August 17-21st, Pangborn Sensory Science Symposium in Philadelphia. Attending this symposium offers exposure to the latest research and methodologies in sensory and consumer science, providing valuable insights into consumer behaviour and preferences.
We are very excited about attending Pangborn this year. We think it is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our expertise, raise our brand awareness, and network with like-minded R&D clients. If this is the event for you too, we will look forward to seeing you there!
October
October 28-30th, TMRE: The Market Research Event in Las Vegas. TMRE offers networking opportunities with industry trailblazers, exposure to innovative tools and thought leadership, and actionable strategies to drive success. Attendees can engage in dynamic sessions and workshops led by top experts, providing cutting-edge insights to enhance their research initiatives.
This event has been highly recommended to us and is one that we have seriously considered. We have no doubt that it will fit our criteria: ability to speak, network and compete, however, our budget might not stretch that far this year, and it might be one for our radar in 2026. If you are lucky enough to be able to attend, we’d love to know how you get on.
November
November 5-6th, MRMW EU in Berlin. This annual event brings together forward-thinking clients, innovative agencies, and technology disruptors to discuss the latest trends and innovations driving the market research industry forward. Now more than ever creative thinking and out of the box solutions are needed, MRMW claim to provide the answers and connections you need to excel.
We think this is another great opportunity to learn, network and find new business partners at this European event – crazy early bird tickets are available now!
We hope this summary of R&D conferences and events has been helpful! With so many great options, it’s unfortunate we can’t attend them all, but we’re excited to be at several in the US and UK this year. If you’re planning to attend, we’d love to connect and hear about your experiences.
Let us know how you get on at your chosen events for 2025. We hope to see you there or catch up afterward! We’d be more than happy to share our insights, please contact Richard Heath via email at [email protected].
Stay In Touch