We conduct high quality, company-specific research in emerging markets on a non-profit base for companies with international aspirations in emerging economies.

What?
The projects main objective is to conduct research in India and the Netherlands, which can be fully customized to the wishes of the company. Of course, the research can be conducted in several areas. Examples of research that has been conducted in the past are:

• Market Analysis
• Competitor Analysis
• Industry entrance analyses
• Sector Analysis
• Growth strategy analyses
• Feasibility Analysis
• Identification of possible business partners
• Background research and competitive market analyses
• Distribution and Logistics Research
• Finance or Investment Opportunities
• Outsourcing and Off Shoring
• Import and Export Analysis
• Market Expanding Opportunities

How?
Before going abroad, thorough desk research will be carried out and maximum preparation will be ensured. Researchers are offered intensive training about  conducting research, India, its business culture and relations with clients. The acquisition period starts in January and as soon the client has given the final assignment desk research will start. During the entire period of research, both in the Netherlands and in India, our team of students will be supported by experts and professors if in any case this appears to be necessary.

The field research will take place in India and will last for five weeks. Once the participants have returned to the Netherlands, the gathered data will be processed and the final report will be developed. During this process university professors will act as consultants. The company will constantly be kept well-informed and updated about the projects progress. The research results will be presented to the contracted company and, if requested, the report will be published.

Student Selection
Each year around 90 students apply for the FSA Research Project. These students are active in the field of Finance, Accountancy, Management Accounting (Controlling), International Financial Economics, Marketing, Fiscal Economics and other related disciplines such as Law and Social Science. We have selected sixteen of the most promising students.

• Final stage of study (150 ECTS prerequisite)
• Highly motivated and ambitious
• Internationally oriented
• Organizational experience
• Good academic results
• Team playing skills

Note: Participating companies are able to express their preference for participating students

Desk Research
Desk research covers a period of approximately six months. The first months of this period will be used to learn about the Indian economy, politics, culture and businesses. The students acquire this knowledge through several courses and lectures given by guest speakers, i.e. people from business practice. During the second half of the desk research students will start the research for their individual business assignments.

Field Research
During the Research Project, approximately five weeks of field research will be carried out in India. The information needed for these assignments will be obtained by means of interviews and visits to companies and institutions. The way the field research is conducted can be adjusted according to the specific preferences of the participating companies.

Reporting
After visiting India, each participating student will analyze and process the information gathered during the previous phases of the Research Project. The  individual contributions of the participating students to the general survey will then be compiled to a customized report covering the research question proposed by the client. The students will present their individual research reports to the participating companies.

Over the last fifteen years the Financial Study association Amsterdam has gained considerable experience in organizing foreign Research Projects. The destinations of the previous editions are displayed in the ‘FSA Research Project’ – world map. In each of these projects, research assignments have played an important role. As mentioned before, the research can be conducted in a variety of fields. Examples of participating companies in the past have been:

This list shows a number of companies, active in different industries. Due to confidentiality issues, we can only mention a limited number of companies, which have given their explicit permission. Some examples of research assignments are provided below and on the right page. Noteworthy to mention is that however only large companies are stated here, numerous researches have been done for several SME’s.

FMCG Supply Chain (South Africa, 2011)
The goal of this research was to find out who the most important players were in the FMG Supply Chain from producter through packager to retailers. The mission was to find out how technologically advanced each industry link was, where decision power and autonomy lies, how the market is evolving, and which industry and consumer trends in South Africa are noticable. Shorthly put, the interviews, that took the researchers from Johannesburg to Durban to wonderful Cape Town, we designed to help a Dutch player gain foothold if they were to start conducting any type of operations in the country.

Green Technology (China, 2010)
This research was to identify the opportunities in the Chinese market. The focus was on Shanghai, Beijing and the province of Shandong. The research consisted of two parts. On one hand, the aim was to find out possibilities for doing business in China (including the legal aspects). On the other hand, it was focused on sustainability and agriculture in particular. To highlight the reciprocal investment possibilities, also a blueprint was made of both these sectors in the Dutch market.

Strawberindo Lestari (Indonesia, 2008)
This research represents a study on the logistical process of PT Strawberindo Lestari’s exporting activities towards Singapore and Malaysia. The goal of this project was to find a more cost efficient method of transportation, while preserving the quality of the products.

NEC Philips (South Africa, 2007)
This particular research was about finding appropriate business partners for the joint-venture NEC Philips in Mozambique, Tanzania, and Kenya to distribute one of their products. In order to realize this they had to plan and appoint multiple different business meetings with potential distributors in each of these countries. The outcome of this research assignment was an advisory report about which distributors were best suited for the job. NEC Philips actually used their advice to select one of the potential partners.

Dutch Trade Board (India, 2006)
The research in India was performed for the Dutch Trade Board (DTB), which is an agency related to the Dutch ministry of foreign affairs. This research was focused on the trade relations between Dutch and Indian SME’s in the biotech, medical, automotives, ICT and the agricultural sector. The final report is now used by the EVD in providing information about India to Dutch companies.

DHL (Brazil, 2005)
The scope of this research assignment was the Brazilian express-market and the interaction with the Benelux ex- press-market in particular. Furthermore they explored the possibilities to expand their business.

Rabobank (Russia, 2004)
The FSA conducted a research within the agricultural business and provided Rabobank with a qualitative industry entrance analysis of the Russian agricultural market.

ING group (India, 2003)
The FSA provided ING Vysya Life Insurance with a quantitative analysis of their investment portfolio in India. A decreasing interest rate was the reason to assess whether, next to bonds, investments should be expanded to stocks. ING actually used the report to rebalance its investment portfolio.

Dialight corporation (Mexico, 2002)
Dialight Corporation is an American lighting firm that produces and develops the LED Technology. LED (Light Emitting Diode) is a new technology based on semi-conductors. The FSA Research Project was asked to extensively research the Mexican led Traffic Light market. In the three largest cities of the country (Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey) three students inter-viewed government officials, competition’s representatives, as well as other related third parties.