2.__Definition.__For the purposes of this section, "research and development" means activities that directly or through capital investment support basic and applied scientific research and related commercial development funded by state appropriations.

3.__Fund sources.__The fund receives money deposited by the Treasurer of State pursuant to this section and any other gift, grant or other source of revenue deposited for that use.

4.__Transfers to fund.__Notwithstanding section 1585 or any other provision of law, the State Budget Officer may transfer General Fund appropriations for research and development efforts to the fund. The transfer and allotment of available funds may not exceed 0.8% of the total research and development appropriations. Only those programs that receive $500,000 or more in research and development appropriations, as identified and certified by the State Budget Officer and the Office of Fiscal and Program Review, may be assessed upon concurrence of the affected agencies, institutions and departments. The transfer must be implemented by financial order contingent upon the recommendation of the State Budget Officer and approval of the Governor and upon review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs. The financial order must include a plan outlining how these funds will be expended. The financial order takes effect upon approval by the Governor. Total transfers made pursuant to this section may not exceed $120,000 in any fiscal year.

5.__Repeal; lapse of funds.__This section is repealed June 30, 2006. Unexpended funds in the fund at that time lapse to the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund.

§13060-E.__Experimental program to stimulate competitive research

The department, the University of Maine System and the EPSCoR steering committee are jointly responsible for the administration of the Maine Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, referred to in this chapter as "the Maine EPSCoR Program," which is established in this section as a partnership effort between the State Government and the Federal Government to strengthen the State's science and engineering infrastructure.