Loughborough University has partnered with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Center for Transportation and Logistics to be the first UK member of its Global Supply Chain and Logistics Excellence (SCALE) Network.
The union will offer an exclusive Master's degree programme for hundreds of students each year, with time divided between both Loughborough and Massachusetts.
The centre itself will focus on research and working with industry. It will join the established SCALE Network, which is already operating around the world in countries such as Spain, Luxembourg, China and Colombia.
Professor Jan Godsell, dean of Loughborough Business School, said: "The UK is a small island so we have to think very carefully about how we ensure everybody in our country has access to the things that they need, when they need them, at a price that they can afford.
"The centre will be the go-to place to develop the next generation of supply chain talent.
"We're bringing our expertise, particularly around the circular economy and also digitisation – and at its core is a flagship MSc program in supply chain, which involves time in Boston at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and an MIT certificate as well as a Loughborough degree."
The MIT Global SCALE Network was established in 2003 with the inauguration of the Zaragoza Logistics Center in Spain. Since then, it has expanded to include centres in Colombia, Luxembourg, China, and now the UK.
The network supports over a dozen educational programmes, engages more than 80 researchers and faculty, partners with 150 corporations, and boasts an alumni network of more than 1,200 professionals worldwide.
"Loughborough University's exceptional research capabilities and commitment to supply chain innovation make it a valuable addition to the MIT Global SCALE Network," said professor Yossi Sheffi, director of MIT CTL. "Their expertise will enhance our collective ability to create cutting-edge solutions and educate the next generation of supply chain leaders."