ensure it is correctly imported into the relevant system. This situation is compounded by the fact that the various HR and finance systems which also feed information into (and out of) the research management process are similarly diverse and lack integration with the various research management software solutions on the market. Moreover, different institutions have different processes and procedures -- for example, approvals and submission. In short, HEIs are all starting from a different place and no two institutions use the same set of systems and processes for research management and administration . In addition, institutions have in many cases invested heavily in their existing systems and tools and would be reluctant to throw this away. The RMAS team therefore determined that what was needed was a methodology of integrating these existing tools, rather than developing and introducing an entirely new system from scratch. What are the benefits? Potentially, these are huge. The RMAS pathfinder institutions (Exeter, Kent and Sunderland) have made the following estimates in terms of savings as well as associated data quality and planning improvements: You could expect the following chain benefits from implementing RMAS modules: Procurement savings of around 35,000 for each OJEU tender Procurement savings of around 14,000 for each sub-OJEU tender Savings for a medium sized university of 75,000 per annum for each ofthe RMAS modules that they use. The operational savings equate to: 60 per application for proposal management systems 140 per academic or 70 per project for post-award management systems 70 per