MRDC Sells UK and Thai Data Ops to Cobalt Sky

Kent-based MRDC has sold its data management operation in the UK and its data entry centre in Thailand to London-based research technology firm Cobalt Sky. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Cobalt Sky - originally known as ATP - has provided IT-related services and solutions to the research industry since 1989. The acquisition adds a further half dozen people to its 20-strong team in the UK, and a further 12 in Thailand.

Phil Hearn and Sonja Stone, the former owners of MRDC, will continue to trade under the name of MRDC Software Ltd, providing specialised data processing services and automated reporting systems as well as continuing to supply software and related training and support.

Cobalt Sky co-founder and MD Raz Khan said the acquisition was a good fit: 'both companies have a wealth of experience in MR technology and have been providing high quality, often complex, solutions to our clients. The data entry team, based in Kent and Pattaya, Thailand is very experienced and used to dealing with highly complex questionnaires that currently cannot be replicated online. We will continue to offer the same high standard of service as MRDC, while providing a complete service across the MR technology spectrum.'

Last May, Cobalt Sky announced a new system for the display of surveys, promising a 'new visual survey experience' based on a simple survey interface working as an overlay on SPSS web survey software.

Web sites: www.mrdcsoftware.com and www.cobalt-sky.com .