(1) Subject to section 450a, for tax years that begin on or after January 1, 2008 and end before January 1, 2016, a taxpayer that is engaged in research and development of a qualified technology may claim a credit against the tax imposed by this act equal to 3.9% of the compensation as defined in section 107 for services performed in a qualified facility, paid to the employees at the qualified facility in the tax year, if the taxpayer has entered into an agreement before April 1, 2007 with the Michigan economic growth authority that provides all of the following:

    (a) The type and number of jobs at the qualified facility to which the agreement applies.

    (b) The type of work to be performed by the employees performing the jobs provided under subdivision (a) by the taxpayer.

    (c) Any other terms and conditions that the Michigan economic growth authority considers to be in the public interest.

    (2) If the credit allowed under this section exceeds the tax liability of the taxpayer for the tax year, that portion that exceeds the tax liability shall be refundable.

    (3) The maximum amount of the credit allowed under this section that any 1 taxpayer may claim shall not exceed $2,000,000.00 in a single tax year.

    (4) As used in this section:

    (a) “Michigan economic growth authority” means the Michigan economic growth authority created in the Michigan economic growth authority act, 1995 PA 24, MCL 207.801 to 207.810.

    (b) “Motor vehicle” means a motor vehicle as defined in section 33 of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.33, that is designed as a passenger vehicle, or sport utility vehicle, but does not include a motor home, bus, truck other than a pickup truck or van, or a vehicle designed to travel on less than 4 wheels.

    (c) “Qualified city” means a city that meets both of the following criteria:

    (i) Has a population of not less than 80,000 and not more than 82,000 as designated by the United States bureau of the census in the 2000 census.

    (ii) Is located in a county that has a population of not less than 1,000,000 and not more than 1,300,000 as designated by the United States bureau of the census in the 2000 census.

    (d) “Qualified facility” means a leased facility in a qualified city used for the research and development of a qualified technology.

    (e) “Qualified technology” means a hybrid system the primary purpose of which is the propulsion of a motor vehicle.

    (f) “Research and development” means “qualified research” as that term is defined in section 41(d) of the internal revenue code.