UPU launches research fellowship on e-commerce logistics

UPU and the University of Antwerp have launched a research fellowship focused on cross-border e-commerce and parcel logistics. It aims to provide postal operators with the research and insights needed to adapt to evolving global delivery networks and competitive market dynamics.

According to a post on LinkedIn, the initiative is supported by the Japan Fund and will explore cross-border parcel flows, examining how air freight and e-commerce ecosystems interact with global postal operations.

It will also: work to standardize key industry definitions, including B2C, B2B and C2C segments, while analyzing emerging business models such as pharmaceutical logistics; focus on assessing whether existing UPU frameworks need to be updated to better support postal operators; and use real-world data analysis, expert interviews and academic research to provide evidence-based recommendations to help the sector navigate ongoing changes.

During a visit to Antwerp at the end of January, UPU Director General Masahiko Metoki met with university leadership, the first fellows and key industry players – including bpost and BIPT-IBPT – to discuss the project’s impact and highlight the importance of such collaborations.

“I encourage students and faculty to view the postal sector as a dynamic field with opportunities in applied economics, data science, sustainability and logistics management,” he said. “By tackling its challenges, we contribute to a sector that is both intellectually rigorous and socially impactful.”

According to UPU, ‘this fellowship marks an important step in research-driven postal innovation, ensuring postal services remain resilient, efficient and prepared for the future digital economy’.