A “complex system” is in general any system comprised of a great number of heterogeneous entities, among which local interactions create multiple levels of collective structure and organization. Examples include natural systems ranging from bio-molecules and living cells to human social systems and the ecosphere, as well as sophisticated artificial systems such as the Internet, power grid or any large-scale distributed software system. A unique feature of complex systems, generally overlooked by traditional science, is the emergence of non-trivial superstructures which often dominate the system’s behaviour and cannot be easily traced back to the properties of the constituent entities. Not only do higher emergent features of complex systems arise from lower-level interactions, but the global patterns that they create affect in turn these lower levels — a feedback loop sometimes called immergence. In many cases, complex systems possess striking properties of robustness against various large-scale and potentially disruptive perturbations. They have an inherent capacity to adapt and maintain their stability.

Because complex systems require analysis at many different spatial and temporal scales, scientists face radically new challenges when trying to observe complex systems, in learning how to describe them effectively, and in developing original theories of their behaviour and control.

The aim of this roadmap is to identify a set of wide thematic domains for complex systems research over the next five years. Each domain is organized around a specific question or topic and proposes a relevant set of “grand challenges”, i.e., clearly identifiable problems whose solution would stimulate significant progress in both theoretical methods and experimental strategies.



Contributors

  • Fréderic Amblard - Université de Toulouse
  • François Arlabosse - CYBEL
  • Pierre Auger - ISC-IRD-Geodes
  • Jean-Bernard Baillon - Université Paris 1
  • Olivier Barreteau - Cemagref
  • Pierre Baudot - ISC-PIF
  • Elisabeth Bouchaud - CEA
  • Soufian Ben Amor - Eurocontrol
  • Hugues Berry - INRIA
  • Cyrille Bertelle - LITIS UFR sciences technologies
  • Marc Berthod - INRIA
  • Guillaume Beslon - INSA Lyon, dept. Informatique
  • Giulio Biroli - CEA
  • Daniel Bonamy - CEA Saclay
  • Daniele Bourcier - CNRS
  • Paul Bourgine - Ecole Polytechnique
  • Nicolas Brodu - INRIA Rennes
  • Marc Bui - EPHE
  • Yves Burnod - INSERM
  • Bertrand Chapron - IFREMER
  • David Chavalarias - Institut des Systèmes Complexes de Paris Ile-de-France / CNRS
  • Catherine Christophe - INRA
  • Bruno Clément - Inserm
  • Jean-Louis Coatrieux - Université de Rennes 1
  • Jean-Philippe Cointet - Institut des Systèmes Complexes de Paris Ile-de-France / INRA
  • Valérie Dagrain - consultante technologie information
  • Katia Dauchot - CEA, Commissariat à l'energie atomique
  • Olivier Dauchot - CEA, Commissariat à l'energie atomique
  • François Daviaud - CEA
  • Silvia De Monte - ENS
  • Guillaume Deffuant - Meteo-France & U. Paris-Est Cemagref
  • Pierre Degond - CNRS
  • Jean-Paul Delahaye – LIFL - Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille
  • René Doursat - Institut des Systèmes Complexes / CREA, Ecole Polytechnique
  • Francesco D'Ovidio - Ecole Normale Supérieure
  • Marc Dubois - CEA SPEC
  • Berengère Dubruelle - CEA
  • Marie Dutreix - Institut Curie
  • Robert Faivre - INRA
  • Emmanuel Farge - INSERM- University Paris 7 Denis Diderot
  • Patrick Flandrin - CNRS ENS Lyon
  • Sara Franceschelli - Paris Jussieu
  • Cédric Gaucherel - INRA
  • Jean-Pierre Gaudin - IEP
  • Michael Ghil - ENS Paris
  • Jean-Louis Giavitto - Université Evry
  • Francesco Ginelli - Institut des Systèmes Complexes de Paris Ile-de-France
  • Vincent Ginot - INRA
  • François Houllier - INRA
  • Bernard Hubert - INRA
  • Pablo Jensen - ENS Lyon
  • Ludovic Jullien - Paris VI University
  • Zoi Kapoula - CNRS
  • Daniel Krob - École Polytechnique
  • François Ladieu - CEA
  • Gabriel Lang - Agro Paris Tech
  • Chrsitophe Lavelle - IHES
  • André Le Bivic - Direction CNRS
  • Jean-Pierre Leca - Université Paris I-Panthéon-Sorbonne,
  • Christophe Lecerf - Ecole des Mines Ales
  • Pierre Legrain - CEA
  • Denis L’Hôte - CEA
  • Maud Loireau - IRD
  • Jean-Francois Mangin - CEA
  • Olivier Monga - IRD
  • Michel Morvan - Ecole normale supérieure de Lyon
  • Jean-Pierre Muller - CIRAD
  • Ioan Negrutiu - ENS Lyon
  • Edith Perrier - IRD
  • Nadine Peyreiras - Institut de Neurobiologie CNRS
  • Denise Pumain - Université Paris 1
  • Ovidiu Radulescu - Université de Rennes 1
  • Jean Sallantin - CNRS LIRMM
  • Eric Sanchis - Université Paul Sabatier
  • Daniel Schertzer - Méteo France
  • Marc Schoenauer - INRIA
  • Michèle Sebag - CNRS
  • Eric Simonet - CNRS
  • Adrien Six - Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6
  • Fabien Tarissan - Institut des Systèmes Complexes de Paris Ile-de-France
  • Patrick Vincent