Optimization Grand Challenge 2026

[OGC 2026] The Grand Shipyard Puzzle: Pack the Block, Beat the Clock!

The shipbuilding industry represents one of the world's most massive
optimization puzzles. In a high-stakes environment where thousands of
mega-blocks move within constrained spaces and complex schedules
intertwine, even a minor inefficiency can ripple through the entire
production line.

This year, the Optimization Grand Challenge (OGC) 2026 invites you to
tackle this real-world complexity: Shipyard Block Spatial Allocation and
Movement Optimization.

* Why Join the Grand Shipyard Puzzle?
True optimization isn't just about "crunching numbers"—it’s about
structuring messy, real-world constraints into a framework for superior
decision-making.
Last year, the majority of winning teams leveraged Gurobi to model complex
industrial problems rapidly and execute large-scale computations reliably.
As an official partner of OGC 2026, Gurobi continues to empower
participants to solve the industry's toughest challenges.

* Competition Details
Theme: Shipyard Block Packing & Movement Optimization
Eligibility: Open to students, professionals, and optimization enthusiasts
worldwide.
Team: 1 to 3 members per team.
Open Source: To contribute to the field, all finalist algorithm codes will
be released as open source.

* Important Dates (2026)
Registration: May 25 – June 07
Preliminary Round: June 15 – July 28
Final Round: August 03 – August 14
Final Presentation & Awards: September 04

* Total Prize Pool : KRW 200 million (Approximately $130,000)

1st Prize (1 team) : KRW 70M/team
2nd Prize (2 teams) : KRW 25M/team
3rd Prize (3 teams) : KRW 10M/team
4th Prize (4 teams) : KRW 3M/team
Additional prizes for up to 20 teams

LG CNS internship opportunities will be offered to award winners. (Details
will be announced separately)

"Great optimization is the art of finding the best possible path amidst a
sea of infinite choices."
Are you ready to test your algorithms against real industrial data? Join
the challenge and showcase your expertise on a global stage!

Learn more and register: https://optichallenge.com



Sender: Seulgi Joung (email: [email protected], [email protected])

====================================================
Seulgi Joung, Ph.D
Associate Professor
Department of Industrial Engineering, Ajou University
Department of Artificial Intelligence, Ajou University

email: [email protected]
website: sgjoung.github.io
====================================================

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