Optimization GrandChallenge 2026
OGC
📌 About the Challenge
The Optimization Grand Challenge 2026 (OGC 2026) is an elite global operations research tournament co-hosted by LG CNS and the Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers (KIIE). This year’s core track presents “The Grand Shipyard Puzzle: Pack the Block, Beat the Clock.”
The problem simulates real-world heavy industrial manufacturing bottlenecks where 2D/3D spatial layout constraints are tightly coupled with temporal scheduling parameters. Participating software teams must determine precisely where, how, and when massive shipyard blocks should be dropped, positioned, and moved across storage/assembly zones to create the most optimal production scenario.
📅 Critical Dates & System Timeline
- 📝 Registration Extension: May 25 – June 12, 2026 (Friday) @ 13:00 KST
- 🧪 Preliminary Phase: June 15 (Monday) @ 14:00 KST – July 28 (Tuesday) @ 14:00 KST
- 🏁 Final Phase Arena: August 3 (Monday) @ 14:00 KST – August 14 (Friday) @ 14:00 KST
- 🏅 Ceremony & Awards Node: September 4, 2026 (Friday) (Time TBA)
👥 Rules of Engagement & Team Matrices
- 🌎 Geolocation Scope: 100% virtual online format open globally to students, corporate professionals, researchers, and algorithm enthusiasts.
- 👥 Team Formations: 1 to 3 members per cohort
- 🛠️ Stack Flexibility: Competitors are free to use any computational methodology, including exact mathematical programming solvers, custom meta-heuristics, reinforcement learning pipelines, or hybrid algorithmic configurations.
- 🛡️ Code Integrity: Finalist teams are required to submit an exhaustive technical report along with their pure source code. All final code bases will be open-sourced to the global developer community post-event.
💰 Prize Matrix & Career Incentives
The total prize allocation is KRW 200 Million (Approximately $130,000+ USD)