Norstat acquires Swiss company DemoSCOPE to strengthen local presence

Founded in 1961, DemoSCOPE operates from offices in Lucerne and Fribourg. With more than 60 years of experience, the company has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality data collection and research services across both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. It operates one of the leading proprietary consumer panels in Switzerland, with more than 60,000 respondents.

DemoSCOPE serves a loyal client base, including governmental and federal institutions, academia, and leading private-sector organisations. It is known for its reliability, strong methodological expertise, and long-term client relationships. With 50 employees, the company supports around 500 clients and conducts more than 600,000 interviews annually.

This strategic move further consolidates Norstat’s position as a leading data collection provider in Switzerland. DemoSCOPE brings strong public-sector and academic credentials, broad methodological expertise, and a highly experienced team with deep local market knowledge. Together, these strengths support Norstat’s ambition to be a one-stop shop for both quantitative and qualitative data collection in all markets. DemoSCOPE’s strong focus on data quality also makes it a strong cultural and operational fit, enabling smooth integration.

The addition of DemoSCOPE builds on Norstat’s continued investment in Switzerland following the acquisition of Zurich-based TestingTime in 2021. Norstat has also expanded its local presence by growing its consumer panel to meet increasing demand and appointing Raúl Fuertes as Business Development Director. These developments reflect Norstat’s long-term commitment to the Swiss market.

DemoSCOPE’s clients will immediately benefit from Norstat’s data collection offering, gaining access to 14 million respondents across 45 markets in Europe and the Americas, as well as its advanced digital products and solutions, including Norstat Express, Norstat Dashboards, MyNorstat, and Norstat Studio.

Dr. Michael Buess will continue as Managing Director of DemoSCOPE, working in close cooperation with the Norstat team.

Erling J.B. Eriksen, Chief Executive Officer of Norstat, commented:
“We are delighted to welcome DemoSCOPE to Norstat. As a trusted and well-established data collection provider in Switzerland, DemoSCOPE is a strong strategic fit for us. Switzerland is an important market, and with its experienced team, deep expertise in both social and consumer research, high-quality panel, and long-standing client relationships, DemoSCOPE further strengthens our position. Their commitment to data quality makes them a natural addition to Norstat as we continue to build a truly global data collection business.”

Dr. Michael Buess, Managing Partner of DemoSCOPE, added:
“We are incredibly proud of what DemoSCOPE has achieved over many decades in the Swiss market through high-quality work and trusted client relationships. Becoming part of Norstat marks an exciting new chapter for us and is a natural fit with the values that define DemoSCOPE. It allows us to combine our deep local expertise with Norstat’s global operational excellence, creating a more comprehensive offering for our existing clients while also enabling us to expand into new client segments.”

For more information, please contact:

Erling J.B. Eriksen, Chief Executive Officer, Norstat

+47 922 28 606

erling.eriksen@norstatgroup.com

Dr. Michael Buess, Managing Partner, DemoSCOPE

+41 41 375 44 89

michael.buess@demoscope.ch

About Norstat

Established in Norway in 1997, Norstat is a leading data collection provider for market research and insights in Europe and the Americas. We use well-grounded research methods to collect reliable data about any desired topic or target group. We offer sample-only services, full-service fieldwork and digital solutions, using the method that works best – scientifically proven, fair to respondents and sustainable for the industry.

About Demo SCOPE AG

Demo SCOPE AG is a Swiss social and market research company with over 60 years of history. It is firmly established in Switzerland as a trusted institution.

More than 50 permanent employees currently work at its main location in Lucerne (Adligenswil) and at its French-speaking office in Fribourg. The company offers a full range of social and market research services and methods from a single source, with a strong focus on scientifically sound quantitative and qualitative research on complex topics.

Demo SCOPE AG’s online panel currently consists of 60,000 people who regularly take part in its surveys. The company uses a consistent multi-channel recruitment strategy to continuously refresh the panel with new participants.