Georgia biotechnology Center is a division of the Georgia Research Alliance. GBC works to expand the capabilities of various research universities throughout Georgia to develop new scientific and technical breakthroughs in the Biotech industry. Research universities submit proposals, based on GRA standards, for funding and promotional assistance. We process each proposal as either one for Technologly Development Partnership (TDP) or Georgia Biotechnology Center (GBC). After these proposals are distinguished from one another and processed, they are sent to our director for consideration. He decides whether or not the project is of interest, ie. is it technically sound, have a reasonable probability for success, coincide with research areas of GRA, and will it provide economic development benefits to the state of Georgia. If the project fits with our program, a full proposal is requested and then processed upon receipt. Eventually meetings with our director, program manager, and the project investigator ensue to initialize research, to discuss procedures, expectations and mid-year status reports.

When pre-proposals arrive, they must be identified as a TDP or GBC before they are processed. Although the processing procedures for both are similiar, the filing system for both are not. Each program has two separate notebooks and additional files devoted to the project investigator and their particular project. Because theseprojects deal with pertinent issues and large sums of money, their information needs to be readily accessible to office staff. Misinterpretation of a program leads to misfiling, frustration, and loss of time. To process proposals quickly and efficiently, a system to classify each would be helpful to reduce processing time and errors.