Fibi Research Administration Software

Overview

Fibi covers work from funding discovery through project closeout. Its grants module spans proposal development, award setup and reporting, while separate compliance capabilities and agreement workflows sit within the same suite. That scope can reduce the need to manage disconnected administrative processes, especially at organizations handling several kinds of research oversight.

The breadth comes with a trade-off: institutions need to choose modules, users, integrations and hosting as part of a tailored quote. Fibi is therefore a platform to evaluate as an institutional system, not a straightforward per-user purchase.

Key features

Grants and budgets

Fibi Grants manages grant calls, proposal development, budgets, award setup, reporting and closeout. This lifecycle coverage suits offices that need to coordinate proposals and awards in one system; organizations seeking only a narrow award-management tool may not need the full scope.

Compliance and agreements

The suite includes IRB, IACUC, IBC, COI and Export Control capabilities. Fibi Agreements supports agreement creation, negotiation, review and approval, with document generation, intelligent routing and version control. Together, these modules make Fibi a stronger candidate for institutions that want grants, oversight workflows and research contracts under one roof than for teams focused on just one of those functions.

Integrations and automation

Fibi advertises AI-powered workflows to automate tasks and reduce manual entry. Its Integration Suite connects ERP and financial systems, HR and identity systems, SSO providers, sponsor systems and document repositories. REST, SFTP, database and webhook connectors support real-time or scheduled synchronization, including bidirectional data flow. This integration range is useful for institutions connecting research administration to established campus systems, but the value depends on the systems and connections an institution needs.

FIS states that it uses token-based authentication, role-based access control, monitoring, alerts and audit trails. Polus Solutions states that it is ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certified and hosts exclusively with SOC 2 certified partners, including AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform.

Pricing

Custom institutional quote

Fibi has no free plan; its paid plan uses custom pricing, with a quote tailored to modules, users, integrations and hosting preferences. The offering can include Grants, Agreements, IRB, IACUC, IBC and COI, with 10–1000 users and cloud or on-premises hosting. The wide user range accommodates institutional deployments, but buyers must request a quote rather than compare a published price or start on a free tier.

There are no lower-priced plans or published seat quotas to weigh against the full offering. Institutions should choose the modules and deployment approach that match their needs when requesting a quote.

Platforms

Fibi is available as web software and can be hosted in the cloud or installed on-premises. Both deployment options provide the same functionality, security and support, giving institutions a choice between hosted service and local installation without a stated feature difference.

Who it's for

Fibi is aimed at academic institutions, medical centers and research organizations managing grants alongside compliance or agreements. Its lifecycle coverage and integration options are most relevant where research administration must connect with financial, HR, identity or sponsor systems. A small organization with limited administrative workflows, or a buyer looking for a published price and quick self-service signup, should look elsewhere.

Pros and cons

• Broad administrative coverage: Grants, five compliance areas and agreement workflows can be brought into one suite, which suits institutions coordinating multiple processes.
• Flexible deployment: Cloud hosting and on-premises installation offer a choice without a stated difference in functionality, security or support.
• Integration breadth: Multiple connector types and real-time or scheduled, bidirectional synchronization can support links to core institutional systems.
• Custom pricing: A quote tailored to modules and deployment can align with an institution’s requirements, but there is no published price for budgeting or comparison.
• Implementation may take time: A standard off-the-shelf deployment can take as little as two months, and complex implementations may take longer; this is a substantial commitment compared with a simple tool.

Alternatives

Choose Cayuse Award Management if you want a paid, web- and API-capable alternative focused on award management. Infonetica Research Flow is another paid web option, with a demo or contact offered. Streamlyne Research is a paid web alternative.

GrantsNow is a paid web alternative. Pure Award Management is a paid option with web and API platforms. ResearchMaster Enterprise is a paid web alternative. InfoEd Global is a paid alternative available on web, Windows and self-hosted, as well as through an API; contact InfoEd for a demo. OneRamp ERA Suite is a paid alternative for web, Android and iOS, with pricing available by contacting the company.

Verdict

Fibi is a strong choice for academic institutions, medical centers and research organizations that want grants, compliance and agreements in an integrated system, with cloud or on-premises deployment. Its principal advantage is breadth across the research lifecycle; its principal drawback is the custom-quote purchasing process and potentially lengthy implementation. Choose it when that institutional scope matters more than a published price or a lightweight rollout.