The Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) at University of Cambridge Judge Business School, Asian Development Bank Institute and Academy of Internet Finance, Zhejiang University have teamed up to launch the Third Asia-Pacific Region Alternative Finance Industry Survey. The research initiative will review all forms of alternative finance including crowdfunding, peer to peer (marketplace) lending, reward based and other new forms of finance outside of the traditional financial system across the Asia-Pacific region.

Dr. Hung-Yi Chen, Asia-Pacific Region Manager at CCAF, commented on the forthcoming research; “This year’s survey builds on a series of our alternative finance benchmarking reports with the primary purpose to provide the best available market data and analysis of the industry for policymakers and regulators globally. It is our pleasure to partner with Asian Development Bank Institute and Academy of Internet Finance, Zhejiang University to conduct this study and further tracking emerging dynamics and developments within this fast changing industry in Asia-Pacific Region”

The forthcoming survey on Asia-Pacific build upon the multi-year research agenda of CCAF to provide the best available source of industry data on a country-by-country basis. The quantified data is widely referenced and, importantly, used by policymakers as a guide to the evolving alternative finance market.

Last year’s report, entitled Cultivating Growth, gathered survey data from 628 leading alternative finance platforms operating in 17 Asia-Pacific countries and regions. The study has since been cited by over 100 mainstream media organizations and has informed policymakers and regulators of industry developments in Asia Pacific countries including Malaysia, Singapore, India, Australia, Hong Kong and Indonesia for example. This year’s study is said to dive even deeper into the growth and dynamics of the APAC alternative finance market.

Dr. Naoyuki Yoshino, Dean at Asian Development Bank Institute said: “Expanding access to finance is an important development objective in many Asia-Pacific emerging countries, and fintech holds great promise to accelerate and facilitate the achievement of such access. This survey will provide an important database from which to develop policy recommendations to promote financial inclusion while safeguarding financial stability and maintaining consumer protection.”

Professor Shenglin Ben, Dean of Academy of Internet Finance at Zhejiang University added: “Alternative finance has experienced vigorous growth in recent years across the globe，with various business models flourishing in different regions and markets. In particular, the marketplace lending and crowdfunding, as the key parts of alternative finance，have gone through a very rapid and dynamic development in different areas of the world, creating highly diversified business models, especially in the Asia Pacific region. I am very glad that the Cambridge Center for Alternative Finance (CCAF), the Academy of Internet finance, Zhejiang University (AIF) and the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) are working jointly to conduct the 2018 Asia Pacific alternative finance survey, aiming to provide useful insights for both policy makers and practitioners in the area of alternative finance. We are very grateful to your kind support and participation.”

The Third Asia-Pacific Region Alternative Finance Industry Survey launches on 29th May and is scheduled to close on 6th July 2018. The objective is to capture the key trends including the development, size, transaction volume and growth of alternative finance across Asia-Pacific.

The research will be made publicly available in Q3-Q4 of this year. This benchmarking study will help inform policymakers and regulators. The study will facilitate dialogue and learning between industry associations and key stakeholders, while raising awareness of the availability of alternative finance both for consumers and business.

The results of the survey will be made freely available to the public in the Third Asia-Pacific Region Alternative Finance Industry Report, due to be published later in the year.

Importantly for survey participants, the findings will be presented in aggregate form either by country, region or alternative finance models and no individual platform data will be divulged. All participating platforms will be kindly acknowledged in the benchmarking reports, with their respective logos displayed prominently.

Please see survey links below:

• For Platforms in Asia-Pacific excl. China
  (English, Bahasa Indonesia, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese)
• For Platforms in China
  (English & Chinese Simplified)

For enquiries about the Third Asia-Pacific Region Alternative Finance Industry Survey, please contact:

Dr. Hung-Yi Chen (CCAF, University of Cambridge) at [email protected]
Dr. Long Q. Trinh (ADBI) at [email protected]
Dan Luo at (AIF, Zhejiang University) [email protected]