FreeBalance eGrants Goes Live in Ireland - Web-Based Grants Management System Deployed by Irish Government Research CouncilOTTAWA, CA, March 27, 2003 -- FreeBalance Inc., the eGovernment solutions company, today announced that the Irish Research Council's Embark Initiative has launched a new national online grant application system based on the FreeBalance eGrants(TM) system. The web-based grants applications and management system will be used across a range of multi-million dollar research funding programs in the sciences, engineering and technology. The FreeBalance eGrants system was deployed in less than three months by Ireland-based MAC, the recently privatized National Microelectronics Applications Centre. It is the first such integrated and highly secure transaction-based system to be implemented in Ireland and forms part of the State's eGovernment program. "The new eGrants system adds major efficiencies to the grants assessment and administration process while serving to reduce operational costs," said Martin Hynes, Executive Director of The Embark Initiative. "Here we have a system which minimizes physical documentation, reduces information processing requirements and enhances overall responsiveness to candidates. I am confident it will provide major benefits to both the research community and to the State in meeting eGovernment objectives." Once a call for applicants is made, individual researchers can use the system to apply for postgraduate, doctoral and postdoctoral research funding. They can complete on-line application forms, submit all relevant supporting documentation and track the progress of their application on the web. In turn, Embark administrators and independent academic assessors can access the system to evaluate applications prior to deciding on the allocation of funds. The system is highly secure and confidential. "This new and dynamic eGovernment system could easily provide a common, easy-to-use on-line access point for all grants in Ireland and elsewhere. It significantly reduces costs, improves service and has the potential to become as widely used as the Internet booking of airline tickets," said Dr. John J O'Flaherty, Technical Director of MAC. "FreeBalance eGrants enables clients and partners alike to rapidly deploy advanced grants management systems which deliver immediate impact and results," said John McCarthy, FreeBalance's Vice President of Sales. "This is a tremendous opportunity for FreeBalance and we are delighted to be in a position to contribute to the national eGovernment efforts of Ireland." About FreeBalance Inc. For close to two decades FreeBalance has been providing advanced, innovative software solutions to government agencies worldwide. Since the company's inception in 1984, FreeBalance has grown to be a premier provider of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software designed to automate the core business and financial functions of government. FreeBalance Inc., named as one of Federal Computer Week's Top Ten Companies to Watch, is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, and Washington, D.C. FreeBalance clients include the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of the Army, State of California, New York State, Government of Canada, and the Province of Ontario. About MAC Established in 1981 as a Centre of Excellence for Innovation, MAC develops technology products and services for European companies, public-sector organizations and entrepreneurs. MAC delivers complete end-to-end systems that integrate software, electronics, wireless communications and transactional web services to solve complex business problems. MAC is majority owned by a group of private investors from the high tech industry together with Shannon Development and University of Limerick. About The Embark Initiative The Embark Initiative is a major national research funding initiative, operated by the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology. Through a range of highly innovative schemes, Embark invests in People and Ideas, addressing individual research funding needs at Masters, Doctoral and Postdoctoral level and encouraging the most talented researchers to advance their careers in Ireland. The emphasis of all Embark programmes is on individual, innovative and original research, aimed at generating new knowledge in the national interest. The Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering & Technology forms a Board of senior academic and industrial figures Chaired by Professor Thomas Mitchell. The Council operates under the auspices of the Department of Education & Science and the National Development Plan.
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