NFRI WORKING GROUP STREAMLINING ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS

The NFRI Working Group is focused on streamlining administrative requirements within research funding processes, with three dedicated subgroups addressing key areas: applications process and portals, financial reporting, and policies, terms, and conditions. The applications subgroup aims to enhance efficiency by developing a wish list of desired portal features, standardizing application cover pages and guidelines, and creating a clearinghouse of institutional information. The financial reporting subgroup, currently inviting wider participation, has prioritized creating standardized templates for financial reporting and invoicing, seeking input and existing materials from various institutions and organizations. The policies, terms, and conditions subgroup is compiling and analyzing agreement requirements from funders, addressing deliverables, export controls, conflict of interest, research integrity, indemnification, oversight of human and animal subjects, data sharing, and public access. The group's efforts represent a coordinated initiative to harmonize and simplify administrative processes in research funding, thereby reducing administrative burden and promoting greater consistency across institutions and funders.