Planting a New Seed of Collaboration in the City: Leave a Nest Philippines and Quezon City University Forge Partnership for Urban Agriculture and Innovation
Quezon City, Philippines — November 8, 2025 — Leave a Nest Philippines (LVNS PH) and Quezon City University (QCU) have formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to pave the way for new opportunities in research, innovation, and startup development — with a special focus on Urban Agriculture. The ceremony, held at Quezon City University, marks the beginning of a partnership that aims to elevate university research and entrepreneurial collaboration through the Leave a Nest global innovation ecosystem.
Representing Quezon City University were Dr. Theresita V. Atienza, University President, and Mr. Angelito P. Bautista Jr., Director of the Research Management Office. Leave a Nest Philippines was represented by Dr. Yevgeny Aster T. Dulla, Managing Director, and Engr. Ronezza R. Delos Santos, Director.
The collaboration began with a serendipitous meeting during the World Water Day Philippines Awards 2025 last March 22, where LVNS PH received the EMB Agham para sa Tubig at Kalikasan Award and QCU was honored with the Water Warrior Award for Education. Recognizing their shared commitment to education, sustainability, and community development, both institutions saw the potential for meaningful synergy — which soon evolved into a series of dialogues and campus visits involving Leave a Nest’s Japanese startup partners.
According to Dr. Dulla, these interactions revealed multiple areas for collaboration, including the testing and co-development of technologies from the Leave a Nest startup and research network to enhance composting and market waste conversion initiatives at QCU. With QCU’s Center for Urban Agriculture and Innovation, the university provides an ideal environment for students, faculty, and startups to collaborate in practical research and technology validation. Dr. Dulla also envisions QCU to be a good partner in conducting Proof of Concept (PoC) trials related to agriculture, seeing the university’s close relationship with the local government and community.
Dr. Atienza expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, emphasizing how it will provide students with hands-on experience and exposure to real-world applications in engineering, information technology, and entrepreneurship. She shared that this collaboration will empower QCU students — especially those from underprivileged backgrounds — to become innovators who can uplift their families and contribute sustainable solutions to their communities, making the partnership truly for the students and the community.
Through this partnership, LVNS PH and QCU envision empowered researchers and validated technologies that will create a positive impact not only in Quezon City but across the Philippines and beyond. Their first collaborative effort took shape through the Hyper Interdisciplinary Conference in the Philippines 2025, held on the same day as the signing — symbolizing the start of a shared journey toward building a more innovative and sustainable future.
For any questions or concerns, email Leave a Nest Philippines at [email protected] or via Facebook (https://global.lne.st/LNEFB) or LinkedIn (https://global.lne.st/LNELinkedIn)