Hyundai Glovis and South Korea’s ETRI Announce Quantum Pilot for Maritime Logistics Optimization
February 10, 2022
On February 10, 2022, Hyundai Glovis, the global logistics provider under Hyundai Motor Group, announced a pioneering partnership with South Korea’s Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI). The collaboration focuses on applying quantum computing to one of the most complex logistical challenges in the world: maritime shipping optimization.
For decades, global shipping companies have relied on increasingly sophisticated software systems to manage container stowage, route planning, and port scheduling. Yet, even with powerful classical computers, the sheer scale and complexity of maritime logistics often push the limits of traditional optimization methods. With this pilot, Hyundai Glovis and ETRI aim to leverage quantum algorithms to redefine the efficiency and agility of international shipping across the Asia-Pacific region.
A National Push Toward Quantum in Industry
South Korea has set an ambitious agenda to establish itself as a global leader in quantum technology by 2030. The country’s “Digital New Deal” program emphasizes the integration of advanced computing into industrial applications, and logistics is now emerging as a strategic sector.
Hyundai Glovis, already recognized as a leader in automotive and industrial freight transport, is stepping forward as a testbed for quantum-enabled operations. Partnering with ETRI, the government-funded research institute known for its breakthroughs in ICT and communications, the company has committed to co-developing next-generation quantum algorithms specifically tailored for supply chain and logistics challenges.
The partnership’s stated goals include:
Designing quantum algorithms for cargo stowage optimization.
Modeling multi-port route scheduling through quantum-enhanced decision-making frameworks.
Developing a quantum logistics sandbox to simulate and test hybrid classical-quantum scenarios.
By combining Hyundai Glovis’s operational expertise with ETRI’s quantum research capabilities, the project stands as a flagship example of South Korea’s national commitment to the industrial application of quantum technologies.
Maritime Logistics: A Complex Optimization Problem
Maritime logistics is one of the most intricate optimization domains in the world. A modern cargo ship can carry over 10,000 containers, each with specific characteristics such as weight, size, cargo type, delivery priority, and hazardous material classifications. Planning how to stow these containers is not a straightforward task; it involves satisfying stability rules, safety regulations, and delivery schedules while minimizing handling and fuel costs.
The complexity is compounded when ships make multiple port calls. Scheduling which containers are offloaded first, how cranes are used, and when vessels arrive at congested ports requires solving large-scale combinatorial problems that quickly overwhelm even the most advanced classical algorithms.
Traditional approaches use heuristic methods or approximation techniques, but these often fail to deliver optimal results in real time. Quantum computing—particularly methods such as the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA) and Variational Quantum Eigensolvers (VQE)—offers new ways to explore vast solution spaces more efficiently than classical algorithms.
By integrating quantum-inspired approaches into logistics, companies like Hyundai Glovis hope to transform operational performance in ways that were once deemed unattainable.
Inside the Pilot: Quantum Maritime Simulation Platform
The February 2022 pilot is centered around the creation of a maritime quantum logistics simulation platform. This platform is designed to mirror real-world cargo flows across some of East Asia’s most critical shipping corridors, including:
Busan Port – South Korea’s largest port and one of the top 10 globally.
Yokohama and Osaka – major Japanese automotive logistics hubs.
Qingdao and Shanghai – vital Chinese shipping centers.
The simulator enables researchers to test scenarios such as:
Dynamic container assignment based on vessel stability, priority shipments, and hazardous cargo.
Optimized port call sequencing to reduce idle time and port congestion.
Trade-off modeling between fuel consumption and delivery times, helping shipping companies strike a balance between cost efficiency and sustainability.
The system uses ETRI’s domestic quantum emulators in tandem with open-source platforms like Qiskit and PennyLane, ensuring that the algorithms are hardware-agnostic while remaining scalable to future quantum processors.
Early Results and KPIs
Although still in its simulation stage, the pilot has already delivered measurable improvements:
14% reduction in container reshuffling time during stowage planning.
8% increase in delivery schedule adherence across multi-port shipping routes.
2.3x faster performance of prototype quantum-inspired algorithms compared to classical metaheuristics in specific case studies.
Hyundai Glovis emphasized that while current qubit counts are insufficient for fully scaling these solutions, even hybrid approaches are proving to be more effective than purely classical methods. These results highlight the immediate value of quantum-inspired logistics, even before the arrival of fault-tolerant quantum hardware.
Strategic Implications for Hyundai Glovis
Hyundai Glovis has publicly set a goal of becoming the world’s most digitally advanced logistics carrier by 2025. Its entry into quantum logistics is a direct extension of this vision.
The benefits of quantum-enabled logistics for Hyundai Glovis could include:
Improved fleet utilization for its roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) shipping operations.
Enhanced competitive edge in vehicle delivery times and shipping costs.
Stronger sustainability metrics, achieved through optimized fuel consumption and minimized idle times.
These align closely with Hyundai Motor Group’s broader push into smart mobility, electrification, and green transportation strategies. By integrating quantum logistics into its operations, Hyundai Glovis positions itself at the intersection of digital transformation and sustainable shipping.
ETRI’s Role in Korea’s Quantum Ecosystem
ETRI plays a central role in South Korea’s quantum roadmap. As a founding member of the national quantum task force, the institute actively promotes industrial adoption of quantum technologies.
In the logistics sector, ETRI sees quantum computing as a transformative tool to:
Reduce energy waste and emissions across long-haul shipping.
Enhance digital twin modeling for ports and shipping terminals.
Develop post-carbon strategies for Korea’s maritime economy.
The institute is also advancing related technologies such as quantum-secure communications for maritime satellite systems and quantum edge computing for on-board decision-making in vessels.
Asia-Pacific Quantum Logistics Race Heats Up
Hyundai Glovis’s announcement reflects a broader trend across Asia. Regional shipping and logistics leaders are entering the quantum race to secure long-term efficiency and sustainability advantages.
NYK Line (Japan) is working on quantum-enhanced models to mitigate port congestion.
COSCO (China) is testing AI-driven quantum optimization for intermodal synchronization.
PSA Singapore is experimenting with qubit-based load-balancing for cranes and automated guided vehicles (AGVs).
These developments signal a regional pivot toward quantum-powered logistics, with governments and industry leaders investing heavily to maintain competitiveness in global trade.
Future Roadmap and Integration
Looking ahead, Hyundai Glovis and ETRI have outlined a phased roadmap for their quantum logistics initiative:
Late 2022: Integration of the simulator with live container tracking systems.
2023: Algorithm validation using real stowage plans from Busan operations.
2024: Deployment of hybrid quantum-classical optimization tools in select operational settings.
Discussions are also underway with hardware vendors specializing in diamond-based and trapped-ion quantum processors, with the aim of building early testbeds capable of supporting real-world logistics workloads. Additionally, Hyundai Glovis and ETRI are preparing a quantum curriculum to train logistics engineers in this emerging field.
Conclusion: A New Quantum Horizon for Shipping
The Hyundai Glovis–ETRI partnership marks a milestone not just for South Korea, but for the broader logistics industry. For the first time, one of the world’s largest automotive shippers is actively testing quantum computing in a core operational domain.
The early simulation results point to tangible efficiency gains, while the strategic roadmap suggests a serious commitment to scaling quantum logistics into full operational practice. As regional competitors like Japan, China, and Singapore advance parallel efforts, the Asia-Pacific is fast becoming the epicenter of quantum-driven logistics innovation.
If successful, Hyundai Glovis’s quantum initiative could pave the way for smarter, greener, and more resilient shipping networks, helping reshape how global trade moves across oceans in the coming decades.