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Research Committee Sets Agenda
Posted 03/16/09
The Foundation administers research grants from $15,000 to $50,000 to industry consultants and academics in all fields of scholarship to study topics of interest to the equipment finance industry. From healthcare to renewable energy, from business strategy to branding, the Foundation research committee believes the Foundation has increased its number of projects year after year.
But in 2009 to 2010, the Foundation, in addition to its lengthier white papers and studies, will be adding a series of briefing papers that address more timely issues related to current events. For instance, the committee is discussing a project on how the current Administration’s stimulus package might impact the equipment finance industry, forecasting where opportunities might arise.Other topics of interest to the committee include:
- Healthcare Equipment – Long Term Outlook
- How will you fund your company over the next five years? What position do regional banks have in future funding?
- Alternative Funding Strategies – How Industrial Banks Can be the go-to funding source
- Have’s/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
- Sharpening Your Brand – How to Clarify Your Brand
- International series with focus on Middle East and Eastern European countries.
- 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?
- 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.
- Policy 2010: Exploring the impacts of evolving US public policy on the Equipment Leasing and Finance industry
- 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.
- Energy regulatory issues – what is their impact on the equipment finance industry?
Have a topic you believe the Foundation should address? Contact Lisa Levine at llevine@elfaonline.org today!
Sites of Reference:
http://www.leasefoundation.org/Work/grants/ideas.htm
