Overview
MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics (MIT CTL) is a research centre within Massachusetts Institute of Technology, established in the early 1970s. It was created to advance knowledge and practice in transportation, logistics and supply chain management. The centre’s work is grounded in applied research and close collaboration with industry and public-sector stakeholders.MIT CTL’s philosophy emphasises evidence-based decision-making and systems thinking. Its activities aim to improve the efficiency, resilience and long-term performance of global supply chains.
Mission and focus areas
The centre’s mission is to develop and disseminate practical insights that improve how supply chains and transportation systems are designed and managed. Its research spans supply chain strategy, logistics operations, digital technologies, risk management and system optimisation.MIT CTL increasingly addresses sustainability-related challenges, including supply chain resilience, emissions reduction, resource efficiency and responsible sourcing. While not a sustainable finance organisation, its work supports ESG integration by informing risk assessment, operational performance and value creation across complex supply networks.
Structure and governance
MIT CTL operates as a dedicated research centre within MIT, drawing on faculty from engineering, management and related disciplines. It is led by a director and supported by research scientists, affiliated faculty and professional staff.The centre maintains strong links with industry through structured partnerships and research consortia. These relationships inform research priorities and ensure outputs remain relevant to real-world decision-makers.
Programs and offerings
MIT CTL produces academic and applied research, including reports, working papers and peer-reviewed publications. It convenes conferences, workshops and executive education programmes focused on supply chain leadership and innovation.The centre also supports degree programmes and professional education in supply chain management. Its outputs are valued for combining analytical rigour with practical relevance, making them useful to finance professionals, sustainability practitioners and policymakers seeking insight into supply chain risk, performance and transformation.
We create supply chain innovation and drive it into practice through the three pillars of our mission statement:
Research: We focus on conquering real-world supply chain challenges with ingenuity, passion, and collaborative dynamism to deliver solutions that help organizations and societies to thrive.
Outreach: Our corporate outreach program brings together more than 50 global companies to solve critical supply chain challenges.
Education: Our students work directly with researchers and industry experts on complex and challenging problems in all aspects of supply chain management.
