(a) Grants authorized under this Article shall be awarded only for the following purposes: (i) applied innovation research that provides initial grant funding to help serve critical research and development projects to respond to unique, advanced technology projects and which foster the development of Illinois’ economy through the advancement of the State‘s economic, scientific, and technological assets, or which are recognized as technology programs of exemplary and outstanding research in the field of science and technology; or to assist eligible applicants in the State apply for, or qualify for and leverage, federal funds awarded for advanced technology projects concerning research and development, business innovation research or technical development, or the transfer of useful technology to the private sector; (ii) university and industry partnerships that create high-skill employment opportunities and internship activities in the communities that enable graduates and faculty to stay in Illinois and university and industry initiatives that strengthen the relationship between industry and academia in Illinois so that applied university research is responsive to the needs of the various state industries and industry clusters; (iii) centers of excellence in technology commercialization, innovation evaluation, and intellectual property management that encourages the growth of new enterprises based on technologies developed at Illinois research centers including technology partnerships, technology consortiums or research centers and industry technology associations that are, or will be, established to perform research and development in present and emerging technologies that can be developed for use by commerce and industry; (iv) technology transfer projects involving promotion of new or innovative technologies among small and medium-sized Illinois manufacturers where the technologies have immediate commercial application; training and information dissemination that is directly applicable to small and medium-sized Illinois manufacturer needs; or information transfer to Illinois based research institution regarding best practice in industrial commercialization of technology developments; (v) planning and operational support for statewide support that improve practices in technology commercialization including needs assessment and evaluation of the status of technology implementation throughout the State; and (vi) research and testing of products that render the use of anhydrous ammonia inert in the production of methamphetamine.
     (b) Grants awarded pursuant to this Article may be used to help subsidize expenses, as approved by the Department, for capital improvements, equipment, contractual services, commodities, personnel, support costs, including telecommunication, electronic data and commodities, or other costs.