MnDRIVE Environment Launches New Grant Management Platform

With the announcement earlier this spring of the MnDRIVE Environment Seed Grant RFP, we formally rolled out our new grant management platform – SM Apply. All MnDRIVE Environment Funding Programs will be managed using this software, which includes applications, reviews, awards, reporting, and other post-award management needs. The motivation to move to an automated online platform was multi-fold, but primarily reflects our teams’ desire to standardize our funding programs, streamline the administrative and user RFP process, and to collect and track more rigorous and transparent funding information.

The implementation of this management tool will provide the MnDRIVE Environment Team more flexibility in reacting to an ever changing research landscape here at UMN. Additionally, with more transparent and comprehensive project data, we anticipate being able to share richer research stories that illustrate the positive environmental and economic impact MnDRIVE Environment has generated across Minnesota.

For more information about SM Apply or MnDRIVE Environment Funding Programs, please contact Jeff Standish by email <standish@umn.edu> or phone (612-301-2700).