A person who applies for a grant under this chapter shall assign to the state the right to patent any patentable process developed as a result of a grant under this chapter. The department making the grant shall seek to patent any patentable process developed as a result of a grant under this chapter. The state shall license without cost to a person engaged in placer mining in the state the right to use in the state a patented process that was developed as a result of a grant under this chapter.