About
Processes for Evolutionary Complexity Research and Applications (PERA)
Who are we
From complexity science to companies with global impact
PERA Complexity is a pioneer in the emerging field of applied complexity and complex systems engineering, built on over two decades of basic and applied research in complexity and chaos.
Based in the Netherlands, PERA Complexity develops and holds intellectual property arising from this research, advancing complexity based technologies from scientific insight through validation and application.
Its scientific team explores how chaos, self organization and complex system dynamics can be harnessed to create new technological capabilities. Operating at the intersection of fundamental science, applied research and engineering, PERA Complexity collaborates with an interdisciplinary international network of leading scientists, universities and research institutes.
The goal is to transform scientific discovery into successful companies with the potential to operate at planetary scale. PERA Complexity focuses on technologies capable of addressing large systemic challenges and generating measurable impact across energy, water, security, materials and other critical domains.
Research generates intellectual property. Intellectual property enables technology. Technology becomes companies designed to scale and create lasting impact.
Team
CO-FOUNDER & SCIENCE DIRECTOR
Co-founder & Strategy Director
Global Impact Director
Business & Systems Engineer
Prof. Rodrigo Tavares
Partner and Senior Advisor
Institutional partners
PERA Complexity has collaborated with around 20 leading universities and research institutes across Asia, Europe and North America.
History
Over two decades exploring what comes after conventional physics
PERA Complexity grew out of a research journey that began in 2005, when physicist and inventor Al Cruz filed the first patent behind what became the Complex Energy programme. The original idea was unusual: to explore whether principles from complexity, chaos, photonics and self organisation could be engineered into new physical systems. Together with Quelita Moreno, Cruz began assembling an international scientific network capable of testing and developing the concept.
Early discussions included Professor Hugo Keller at the University of Zurich, Nobel Laureate K. Alex Müller, and Professor Grégoire Nicolis, one of the leading figures in modern complexity science and a close collaborator of Nobel Laureate Ilya Prigogine. In 2009, a four day scientific meeting at Bronnbach Monastery in Germany brought together 20 internationally recognised scientists and helped formalise the first multidisciplinary research group, with Fraunhofer becoming a central European partner in the experimental development of the technology.
The programme then moved steadily from theory into engineering. A theoretical proof of concept was achieved in 2011, followed by the first integrated laboratory scale PERA Fiber prototype at Fraunhofer and experimental proof of concept in 2014. Years of materials development, nanostructure optimisation and fabrication work culminated in a more advanced prototype in 2022, establishing the basis for a continuous semi industrial manufacturing system.
PERA Complexity was later incorporated in the Netherlands to consolidate this research, its intellectual property and the development of new applications. What began with one unconventional energy concept has since expanded into a broader technology platform spanning energy, water, cybersecurity, and green hydrogen. The ambition remains the same as it was at the beginning: to turn complexity science into technologies capable of becoming successful companies at global scale.