Further details are available .
There is a major opportunity to address a number of the Council's priority themes using radical approaches based on theories of complex processes, which are grounded in the development of rigorous models - whether mathematical or computational. The Research Priorities Board has decided that in view of the capacity of the UK research community for work in this area an investment may be most appropriate as a Priority Network. There is no single theory of complex processes, but several theories arising from the different approaches of physics, chemistry, biology, computer simulation and mathematics. There is very little research actually using these theories within UK social science but there is a rapidly expanding international literature. A Priority Network in this area would be expected to have clear potential for contributing to the international leading edge of research in this area, e.g. there are teams within the USA and in Germany where collaboration might be especially beneficial, and a new initiative is planned in Switzerland.