FUNDACION ZARAGOZA LOGISTICS CENTER

Their core work

ZLC is a research institute affiliated with MIT and the University of Zaragoza, specializing in supply chain management and logistics research. They design and test new models for freight transport, urban delivery, and multimodal logistics networks across Europe. Their work spans from strategic TEN-T corridor planning down to last-mile urban delivery optimization, with growing emphasis on digital tools like digital twins and blockchain for supply chain coordination. They bridge academic logistics research with real-world policy and industry implementation, particularly in the Physical Internet concept.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In 2015–2018, ZLC focused on foundational freight logistics: rail services (Smart-Rail), shared logistics information spaces (SELIS), and TEN-T transhipment networks (CLUSTERS 2.0). From 2019 onward, their work shifted decisively toward urban mobility policy (SPROUT as coordinator), the Physical Internet concept, and digital tools — digital twins, blockchain, and AI for logistics. The transition shows a move from infrastructure-level freight research toward smart, connected, and sustainability-driven urban logistics.

ZLC is converging on digitally-enabled, zero-emission urban logistics — expect future work combining Physical Internet principles with AI-driven city freight management.

How they like to work

ZLC operates almost exclusively as a participant (15 of 18 projects), taking on specialist research roles rather than leading consortia — they coordinated only SPROUT. With 295 unique partners across 38 countries, they maintain an exceptionally broad network, suggesting they are a sought-after partner rather than a hub-builder. Their even split between CSA (8) and RIA (8) projects shows they contribute both to policy/strategy studies and hands-on research, making them versatile consortium members.

ZLC has collaborated with 295 distinct organizations across 38 countries, placing them in one of the widest logistics research networks in Europe. Their partnerships span from Western European transport ministries to global urban mobility initiatives in developing countries (SOLUTIONSplus).

What sets them apart

ZLC combines deep academic logistics expertise with practical policy orientation — they don't just model supply chains, they help cities and regions implement mobility transitions. Their consistent presence across Physical Internet projects (6 projects) makes them one of the most experienced European players in this emerging paradigm. Based in Zaragoza — a major logistics hub on the Madrid-Barcelona-Southern France corridor — they bring geographic credibility to freight and intermodal research.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SPROUT
  Their only coordinated project (EUR 470,660) — led city-level urban mobility policy research, signaling their strategic ambition in this area.
• PLANET
  Combines Physical Internet with blockchain and geoeconomics to model TEN-T integration into global trade — their most technically ambitious project.
• LEAD
  Applies digital twins to last-mile logistics for the on-demand economy — represents their push into smart urban delivery systems.