Research Grant Ideas
Now Accepting Proposals
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.
Research topics of interest to the industry include:
- Regulatory Issues: The impact of regulations on the industry - What will equipment finance look like in 5 years?
- Asset Management: Is it a good "add on"?
- Perfect Storm II: What can be learned from the Subprime Blues and applied to the equipment finance market in 2008 and beyond?
- Business Problem: Growing/maintaining an equipment finance portfolio during an economic downturn.
- Examination of the business models, trends and the probable effect of this economic turmoil on leasing over the next 3-5 years.
- Credit Risks: What are some of the new/alternative ways credit evaluation/underwriting decisions are likely to be made in the future?
- 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?
- How companies differentiate themselves as the product becomes a commodity. How to compete when margins are shrinking: Will they continue shrinking, or has the subprime problem started to mitigate the ability of the Lessor to continue shrinking margins? Will we reach the point of no return on margins for some Lessors? What is the next new innovation for the industry?
- US Taxes and Their Global Effect: Operating in a global multi-gasp environment.
- Where Did All My Profits Go - Part II
- Evolution of Service Contracts Bundling/Portfolios - Leasing of a capability rather than leasing an asset.
- Bundling - Everything you need to know to successfully bundle services.
- Fraud - What are the newest techniques to stop fraud?
- Commercial Aviation Lease/Financing Transactions
- Homeland Security Finance
- 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.
General topics of research interest are:
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The Equipment Leasing and 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.