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Research Priorities
Funding of Research Projects
Research grants from $15,000 to $50,000 are available to encourage encourage industry consultants and academics in all fields of scholarship to study topics of interest to the equipment finance industry, administered through the Equipment Leasing and Finance Foundation. Higher grant amounts will be considered for exceptional projects. A review process and grant guidelines are established. Foundation Trustees are willing to work with applicants to focus their proposals on subject matter deemed of interest.
Now Accepting Proposals
Research topics of interest to the industry include:
Bundling
- Asset Management: Is it a good "add on"?
Energy
- Energy regulatory issues – what is their impact on the equipment finance industry?
- How to be Green -- How to reduce your carbon footprint.
Fraud
- Fraud - What are the newest techniques to stop fraud?
Funding
- How will you fund your self over the next 5 years? What position do regional banks have in future funding?
- Alternative Funding Strategies – How Industrial Banks Can be the go-to funding source
- Have/Have not's – will those taking deposits be in favor? Will the government invest in some entities and do away with others?
- Divisional cost of capital – borrowing at one rate and using that rate to subsidize other deals
Gov't Financing
- State of the Federal and State Leasing Market
International
- International series with focus on Middle East and eastern European countries.
- How is the recession affecting the international markets?
Liquidity
- From a historical perspective what have the variables been? Is there some correlation of variables and liquidity? Which variables have more power? Do we have reason to believe these same variables will continue in the future? Why or why not?
Mid Market
- Mid-Market Forum: Experiences and Best Practices from the Small to Mid-Size Players of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Industry
Public Policy
- Regulatory Issues: The impact of regulations on the industry - What will equipment finance look like in 5 years?
- Exploring the impacts of evolving US public policy on the Equipment Leasing and Finance industry
State of the Industry: The US Equipment Leasing and Finance Market … A Sober Re-Look
- Emerging Equipment Trends in the US -- What do manufacturers know about new products and how can equipment financiers prepare?
Tax Policy
- Looking back to go forward. What happened when tax rates went up? What happened to our industry when tax breaks were given?
- US Taxes and Their Global Effect: Operating in a global multi-gasp environment.
Technology
- Technology Series: A look at PC, telecom, office machines, postage machines, etc. In addition to dimensioning the market and driving forces, study should include an assessment of solutions like managed services (bundled service, dial tone etc), cost per use, and other product trends.
Transparency
- Transparency: A Roadmap for a sustainable competitive advantage
General topics of research interest are:
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The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation is a non-profit organization affiliated with the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association, whose objectives are to increase the body of knowledge in the equipment lease and financing field.
