Mark Kac Center for Complex Systems Research was created at the Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Applied Computer Science of the Jagiellonian University as the unique (in Poland) scientific center for advanced research, creating the methodology for the developing branches of science connected to computer technologies and at the same time, promoting this methodology via practical (industrial) applications in high-tech sector.

The Center functions using the newest ideas from mathematics, science and applied computer science, which can describe the behavior and the evolution of the complex systems. Complex systems are multi-element structures, with large number of elements which not only are strongly connected, but also which interact mutually. The examples of real complex systems are: large artificial networks of computer nodes (Internet, www), telecommunication networks (wireless, UMTS and further generations), contemporary economic and financial markets, biosystems and genetic systems or strongly correlated quantum systems. The rapid development of computer sciences and practically unlimited possibilities of recording the information in the memory of the computers triggered the need for new search methods, which can guarantee the fastest possible identification of the essential signals and which can unravel the existing correlations, hidden in the vast sets of information. The leading role in creating such new methods is played by the fundamental science (mainly physics and mathematics).

The project for creation of Mark Kac Center for Complex Systems Research in Poland was inspired by the the activities of similar research centers in US, like e.g. Santa Fe Institute (New Mexico) or Institute for Advanced Studies in Santa Barbara (California). The main goal is to create a strong interdisciplinary center targeted at new directions of computational science which will serve as a seed of a long-term, permanent unit at JU after the completion of ID.UJ initiative, and supported, to large extend on external financing. Such unit will significantly increase the scientific potential in a new discipline of the JU, namely technical computer science and telecommunication.

Labs

The interdisciplinary research at the Center for Complex Systems Research is focused on seven projects:

1. Fundamental research and applications in the field of large computer and telecommunication networks (NetLab)
2. Financial, market and crises risk management and risk assessment (RiskLab)
3. Linking the fundamental research of bioinformatics and genetic computer studies to practical applications (BioLab)
4. Processing of the quantum information (storing, design of the logical gates, fundamental studies of strongly correlated atoms) (QuantLab)
5. Cognitive Science, Artificial Intelligence, Serious Games (CogniLab)
6. Quantum computing, quantum cryptography, deep learning, artificial intelligence (CompLab)
7. Brain Signal analysis, Computational Brain Models (JAHCAI Lab)

• Prof. dr hab. Maciej A. Nowak (chair)
• Prof. dr hab. Bartłomiej Dybiec
• Dr hab. Jakub Gizbert-Studnicki, prof. UJ
• Dr hab. Andrzej Görlich
• Prof. dr hab. Romuald Janik
• Prof. dr hab. Grzegorz Nalepa
• Prof. dr hab. Jakub Zakrzewski

Scientific Advisory Committee (in alphabetic order)

• Prof. Dante Chialvo (Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, UNSAM)
• Prof. Krzysztof J. Cios (Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond)
• Prof. Artur Ekert (National University of Singapore and Oxford University)
• Prof. Maciej A. Lewenstein (Institute of Photonic Sciences, Barcelona)
• Karolina L. Tkaczuk, PhD Eng., Senior Director (Innovation and Academic Alliances, AstraZeneca)