2. encorecomplexity.org 2
Introduction
ENgineering
COplexity
REselience
EPSRC Network + initiative addressing the Grand
Challenge area of Risk and Resilience in Complex
Engineered Systems (CES)
CES examples include complex products consisting of many interacting components
such as gas turbine engines and complex networks such as the UK’s digital, energy and
transport networks.
3. encorecomplexity.org 3
What is complexity?
The length of the shortest message
conveying certain information,
e.g. algorithmic complexity: print
“ab” 20 times as opposed to print
“abbabbbbababaa”…
Uhmm, hence random is
complex?
Well… that doesn’t sound right...
What is Complexity?
Cool! By the way, what is
Complexity?
Let’s go for the length of a
concise descriptions of entities
regularities… and let’s call it
effective complexity!
From latin com-plecto, twisting together
4. encorecomplexity.org 4
What is complexity?
The opposite
of simplicity
The size of an object
in node-link sense
The average
clustering
coefficient
Connectness
Normalised
information
content
Midpoint
between
regularity and
chaos
Difficulty in formulating system
structure/behaviour
Variety
Ability
to
surprise
5. encorecomplexity.org 5
What is complexity?
One possibility
Objective complexity
It’s the size!
Independent from the observer
May depend on the context
Subjective complexity
Departure from simplicity
Independent from the context
Dependent on the observer
(and reference model)
Efatmaneshnik & Ryan 2016
Vs
C = f (|O|, |S|), e.g. C=|O|x|S|
6. encorecomplexity.org 6
What is resilience?
From latin resiliere, bouncing back
100%
t
Systemfunctionality
Shock/event
A measure of the drop,
the time to recover
or any combinations of
these (e.g. the area)
Yet, this is not exhaustive!
7. encorecomplexity.org 7
What is resilience?
Collapse
Whatis100%?
Resilience to
what?
Is it problem specific?
Network
breaking
Node failure
Cascade
failure
propagation
Targeted or
random
attacks
Subsidiary
system failure
Is it system/component
specific?
Is it a property ageing with the
system?
Does it include the cost of
repair?
10. encorecomplexity.org 10
What ENCORE is about
Objectives (simplified version)
• Act as a knowledge hub and a forum to aggregate and refine ideas and
views in this field;
• Develop of a training programme for leaders in CES;
• Create consistent ontologies in the area of complexity science methods
applications to improve resilience in CES;
• Develop a focused manifesto for scientists, engineers and policy makers;
• Identify and map the big engineering challenges and barriers related to risk
and; uncertainties of resilience and sustainable performance that that
Complexity Science can help address;
• Work from the beginning to establish a network that is sustainable beyond
the initial three-year funding period;
• Enhance industry awareness of CS and CES;
• Produce research outputs and disseminate them.
13. encorecomplexity.org 13
Who
• Steering committee (8 Academics)
• Industrial partners
• Sofintsys
• Deloitte
• NI
• Fujitsu
• …
• Overseas institutions
• Santa Fe Institute
• Fraunhofer Institute
• New partners welcome
14. encorecomplexity.org 14
How ENCORE will achieve the targets
• Network Meetings and Workshops to promote the circulations of ideas
within the community
• Feasibility Studies
One call per year
£90K in total
• Creation of an Early Career Network
• White papers
• Strategic Research Agenda and Roadmap
• Submission of proposal for Research funding
• Producing research outputs in the area of resilience and complex systems
