The research within the competence area „Quantitative modeling of complex systems“ covers a wide range of areas and builds a natural bridge between many research topics. It embraces through its techniques the faculty of mathematics and natural sciences, the medical school, and the faculty of economics of the University of Cologne. The ideas of the competence area are central in many coordinated grant programs within the University of Cologne. They include among others SFBs 956 (Star formation), 608 (Complex metal transitions), 680 (Molecular basis of evolutionary innovations), SFB/TR12 (mesoscopic systems), and SFB/Transregio 32 (Pattern in soil-vegetation-atmosphere systems).