The ComplexWorld Research Network will be structured along the following activities:

  • Research Coordination
  • Knowledge Development
  • Research Network Development
  • PhD Programme

The backbone element that will structure the rest of the activities will be the Complex ATM Master White Paper.

The Complex ATM Master White Paper as the backbone of the ComplexWorld Network


The ComplexWorld Research Network will put together a large number of entities, working on a highly multidisciplinary subject, through a variety of activities of different nature. It is therefore essential to provide an orderly and efficient way of organising these activities so that they are fully consistent and complementary.

The Complex ATM Master White Paper will be the common research knowledge vehicle that will provide the required high-level vision. This Master White Paper will:

  • analyze the state-of-the-art within the diifferent research areas relevant to the Network, identifying the major accomplishments and providing a comprehensive set of references to the main publications and research projects;
  • include a complete list of techniques from the field of Complex Systems, a list of application topics, and an analysis of which techniques are best suited to each one of those applications;
  • identify and perform an in-depth analysis of the most promising research avenues and the major research challenges lying at the junction of ATM and Complex Systems domains, with particular attention to their impact and potential benefits for the ATM community;
  • develop an indicative roadmap on how those research challenges should be tackled: depending on their nature, these research challenges could become a research area for a PhD student, the scientific subject of a workshop, or even a research project beyond the structure of the Network itself;
  • identify areas of common interest and synergies with other SESAR activities, with special attention to the research topics covered by other WP-E networks.

In a first stage, the document will mainly be the result of a collaborative effort between the Members of the Network, organised into specific working groups to cover the different areas.

Once a first draft is available, the document will be discussed with the Network Participants, which will have the possibility to provide inputs and feedback through online collaborative tools, Network workshops and ad-hoc participation in the meetings of the relevant working groups.

The Complex ATM Master White Paper will be a living document that will be continously refined and updated throughout the Network life.

Research Coordination

The Research Coordination Activity will take care of the scientific coordination among Network Members and Participants, including the organisation and engagement in events for the discussion and dissemination of research results.

Research Coordination activities will include:

  • the development of a Research Coordination Repository including:
    • the description of each one of the Members, including specific skills and expertise;
    • the description of each one of the Participants, including specific skills and expertise;
    • a matrix linking the available research resources with the different areas of the Master White Paper
  • the organisation of the ComplexWorld Annual Workshop, which will include specific sessions dedicated to:
    • peer-review of WP-E projects;
    • interaction with other SESAR work packages; and
    • review of the progress of the PhD studies;
  • the participation in existing conferences and events that may be of relevance for the ComplexWorld Network; and
  • the participation in the annual WP-E Networks Joint Event.

Knowledge Development

The Knowledge Development activity will provide the scientific leadership for the rest of the activities of the Network.

Knowledge Development activities will include:

  • the preparation and maintenance of the Complex ATM Master White Paper, which will be the main deliverable of this activity throughout the life of the Network;
  • the creation of a web-based, wiki-like Knowledge Repository that will enable and facilitate the collaboration between Network Members and Participants, EUROCONTROL, the SJU and other interested entities;
  • the organisation of initiatives in post-graduate training, including a Summer School to be organized every two years by the University of Seville.

Research Network Development

The ComplexWorld Network will need to develop and maintain its expertise, scientific leadership and role as key driver in the field of ATM Complexity. To meet this objective, ensuring the visibility of the Network activities and the continuous exchange of information with the different ATM and Complexity Science research forums will be of vital importance.

The Research Network Development Activity will have the goal of attracting the interest of these forums towards the research topics addressed by the Network. Specific activities will include the active involvement of the Network Members, in representation of the ComplexWorld Network, in congresses, workshops and other events; and the publication of research work or scientific papers in relevant international journals.

The PhD Programme

The Research Network will put in place a PhD Programme that will sponsor a number PhD studies.

A more detailed description of the PhD Programme is presented here.