There is hereby established within the agency the Technology Planning Program. The program shall provide grants and technical assistance to California nonprofit organizations and public entities working within specific industries to identify conversion or expansion projects. Grants may be awarded in the areas of strategic planning and strategic alliances. The program shall award grants based upon a competitive application process addressing the project’s eligibility, a review of the proposal’s scientific and technological aspects, and ability to fulfill goals of the program. Priority shall be given to those projects with the identified support of industry representatives, matching funding, projects likely to receive federal funds requiring matching funds, and any

other criteria determined by the agency. A project example is a joint effort to develop and commercialize defense-related technologies by federal laboratories, universities, and companies in close geographical proximity.