DLSU Laguna now a PEZA Knowledge, Innovation, Science & Tech park

De La Salle University Laguna Campus is now a Knowledge, Innovation, Science and Technology (KIST) Ecozone, following a proclamation by Malacanan Palace on July 30, 2025. It is  the first Philippine private higher education institution to receive this recognition. 

 A KIST park is a specific type of ecozone created by PEZA. DLSU’s KIST Ecozone is a dynamic space for fostering knowledge exchange, innovation, and technological advancements while promoting sustainability.

It offers a collaborative ecosystem that develops transformative solutions for a sustainable future guided by Lasallian principles of ethical leadership, social responsibility, and a commitment to lifelong learning. It serves as a catalyst for progress in science, technology, and innovation. 

In 2017, De La Salle University began the process of applying for a PEZA ecozone  to host startups, entrepreneurs, and research centers working in collaboration with the university for program development, academic, research and development activities. This initiative aligns with the strategic direction of establishing knowledge, innovation, and sustainability-driven institutional goals. 

Covering five hectares of the 51-hectare Laguna Campus, KIST Ecozone integrates academia, industry, government, and community in driving interdisciplinary research, innovation, and commercialization of green technologies, eco-friendly solutions and sustainable practices.

In a message to the Lasallian community, DLSU President Br. Bernard Oca FSC expressed hope that this development would inspire all to promote innovation, the commercialization of green technologies, eco-friendly solutions, and sustainable development.