THE ISABELA State University plans to establish a Knowledge, Innovation, and Science Technology Park to help spur the growth of the retail sector in rural areas of the province.

The planned KIST Park is a project of the university in partnership with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

PEZA said that the innovation park is one of its premier initiatives and aims to create sustainable economic zones for the growth of the corporate and retail sectors based on the idea of rural community development.

In a meeting, ISU and PEZA discussed the long-term masterplan that will establish an innovation site at ISU Echague Main Campus, ISU Roxas Campus, ISU Ilagan Campus and ISU Cabagan Campus.

The masterplan showed that the park will use about 23 hectares of ISU’s land holdings and transform them into commercial centers, witnessing the rise of ITBPOs, industrial zones, agricultural areas, fabrication labs, dormitory hotels, and an international research center,.

ISU President Dr. Ricmar Aquino said that the program will expand ISU’s service area in bringing development opportunities in the countryside.

“It has been the dream of Isabela State University to establish this KIST Special Economic Zone. ISU is an ideal place for the establishment of the KIST Park because we have a lot of experts who are innovators and technology generators. There will be a merging of academe and industry that will help the entire province of Isabela, the entire region as well, develop their economies,” Aquino said.