Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed, but Trajectory has given undertakings to The Tomorrow Project to continue to allow free access to the database.

The database currently features contributions from academics and analysis of official statistics and other published work, which Trajectory has pledged to maintain. Trajectory researchers will also make their own contributions to the database but, in addition to the free content, Trajectory founder Paul Flatters said the company would also look to make paid-for primary research available through the service in the future.

On- and offline debates are another revenue-generating idea being considered by Flatters and his team, and when the database relaunches next month it will feature elements to encourage Glimpses members to interact with the content and each other.

Commenting on the acquisition, Flatters said: “It has always been part of the plan for the business that in addition to our consultancy work we would provide ongoing access to trend information.”

The database is online here. Content covers social and consumer trends in the areas of globalisation, lifestyles, life stages, identity, media, technology, politics, employment and sustainability.