Royal Society saves money on MSM grant management scheme

Bespoke system allows fellowship to avoid specialist fees

Following the implementation of a new grant management system two years ago, science fellowship The Royal Society has saved £125,000.

The bespoke solution, MSM software's e-Gap 2, was created in 2008 and has allowed the fellowship to avoid IT costs previously incurred when adjustments to the system were needed following the launch or revision of a grant scheme – estimated to be about £15,000 to £20,000 a time.

The e-Gap 2 solution replaced an off-the-shelf solution from First Server which was implemented in 2004 but deemed inflexible.

The software means the fellowship can avoid paying for the expertise of an IT specialist.

The system must manage pre-application information; application for awards; decision-making on awards; administering and monitoring individual awards (including finances); evaluation of grant-making schemes and reporting of essential statistics.

The Royal Society says it is making further return on investment by reselling the database to other grant-making institutions.

The grant management system has been designed to accommodate changes to grant programmes resulting from the evolving needs of the UK's science communities, as well as ever-moving priorities of public and private donors.

Similarly, it has been designed to easily accommodate the demands of financial reporting or legislation, or changing internal business processes.