The Rothman Intelligence Unit - established in 2021 - produces original insight and concepts.
We develop tools and frameworks for deeper understanding, mapping new or uncovered trends affecting business and politics, and producing original research that provides perspectives unavailable from existing sources.
Our work operates on two levels:
The first is research and analysis: deep investigation into markets, policies, sectors, and consumer behaviour across our core regions. We create and publish white papers on regulatory, policy, economic, and political developments at regional and sector level, communication trend reports, and ongoing country and industry monitoring.
The second is consulting and advisory: developing entirely new ways to measure, rank, and understand the world, including research-based indices and original analytical frameworks.
RIU's Consumer Reputation Index researches 12,000 consumers across 12 Central and Eastern European countries, measuring country brand perception and how "made in" origin influences CEE consumers. We have published "European Horizons," a strategic guide for Asian investors entering the EU, and created the Cashless Traveller Index, measuring digital payment developments from the traveller's perspective.
We are also building new institutions and associations - in areas from responsible marketing to stakeholder management. Our AI Lab develops proprietary AI-powered monitoring and analytical tools.
Recurring benchmarks that score countries, cities, or sectors against original frameworks. Each index begins with a concept — a question that reframes how a market or behaviour is understood. Designed to support business decisions, policy debate, and strategic insight for clients and institutions.
Current indices:
Deep-dive publications on specific topics where we have original insight to contribute. Our anchor publication is "European Horizons: A Strategic Guide for Singaporean Business Expansion into Europe," produced in collaboration with the Singapore Manufacturing Federation and first published in 2025 — now an annual publication.
We also publish communication trend reports — including the Employee Communication Trend Report, tracking how organisations communicate with employees across sectors, and the Communication Trend Report Singapore, analysing the evolving communications landscape in Southeast Asia — alongside research on ESG communications trends, EU regulatory developments, European energy policies in Central and Eastern Europe, and responsible communications practice.
Country-level and sector-level studies combining primary data, expert interviews, and Rothman insight. Often produced in collaboration with governments, investment agencies, or industry associations.
Our published analyses include political, economic, and business-environment reports covering Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, and the Baltic states; sector studies including European Energy Policies in Central and Eastern Europe; and EU market entry analyses for companies exploring European expansion.
Our development platform for AI-powered tools and agents. The AI Lab builds proprietary monitoring, intelligence, and analytical tools used by Rothman's advisory teams and deployed to clients. We develop AI-powered media monitoring systems, stakeholder analysis tools, and intelligence dashboards — turning research capability into operational technology.
RIU's Consumer Reputation Index researches 12,000 consumers across 12 Central and Eastern European countries, measuring country brand perception and how "made in" origin influences CEE consumers. We have published "European Horizons," a strategic guide for Asian investors entering the EU, and created the Cashless Traveller Index, measuring digital payment developments from the traveller's perspective.
We are also building new institutions and associations - in areas from responsible marketing to stakeholder management. Our AI Lab develops proprietary AI-powered monitoring and analytical tools.
RIU was established in 2021 and builds on Rothman's research capabilities developed since the firm's founding in 2007.
(2021-ongoing)
The founding RIU product. The first survey mapping the "brand values" of Western and Asian countries in Central and Eastern Europe, measuring how "made in" origin influences CEE consumers. Based on the answers of 12,000 people in 12 countries.
(2025-ongoing, annual)
A Strategic Guide for Singaporean Business Expansion into Europe," produced in collaboration with the Singapore Manufacturing Federation. Now an annual publication.
(2026)
A worldwide index measuring digital payment developments from the traveller's perspective. The first index to measure whether an international visitor can actually pay with their Visa or Mastercard at the point of sale.
(2024)
Multi-country political and economic analysis across Central & Eastern Europe.
(2024)
Tracking how organisations communicate with employees across sectors.
(2025)
Analysing the evolving communications landscape in Southeast Asia.
(ongoing)
Published political, economic, and business-environment analyses covering Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, and the Baltic states.
(ongoing)
Sector-specific analysis of energy policy developments across Central and Eastern Europe.
(ongoing)
Market and regulatory analysis for companies exploring European expansion.