The State Superintendent may award grants to or enter into contracts with eligible consortia for research projects intended to develop educational applications using advanced technologies. To obtain a grant or a contract under this section, an eligible consortium shall submit to the State Superintendent an application at the time and in the form that the State Superintendent requires. The State Superintendent shall require an application submitted under paragraph (1) of this subsection clearly to define: The scope and content of the subject matter of the research; and The relevance of the advanced technology to the content for purposes of improving both the educational system and the State’s economic competitiveness.