*348.264.  Technology investment fund established — source of funds — purpose. — 1.  There is hereby established in the state treasury a special fund to be known as the "Missouri Technology Investment Fund", which shall consist of all moneys which may be appropriated to it by the general assembly, and also any gifts, contributions, grants or bequests received from federal, private or other sources.  Such moneys shall include federal funds which may be received from the National Institute for Science and Technology, the Small Business Administration and the Department of Defense through its Technology Reinvestment Program.  Money in the Missouri technology investment program shall be used to carry out the provisions of sections 348.251 to 348.275.  Moneys for business modernization programs, technology application programs, technology commercialization programs and technology development programs established pursuant to the provisions of sections 348.251 to 348.275 shall be available from appropriations made by the general assembly from the Missouri technology investment fund.  Any moneys remaining in the Missouri technology investment fund at the end of any fiscal year shall not lapse to the general revenue fund, as provided in section 33.080, but shall remain in the Missouri technology investment fund.

  2.  Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 173.500 to 173.565, the Missouri technology investment fund shall be utilized to fund projects which would previously have been funded through the higher education applied projects fund.