Many current problems in advanced functional materials are related to the large range of length and time scales involved in the phase transformations that occur in them. In order to understand the details of the behaviour of such materials and ultimately to put this understanding to use in advanced applications, we need to bridge this multitude of scales by appropriate schemes of interconnected theoretical approaches. The quality and usefulness of these theories have to be tested through comparison with well designed experiments on a series of typical materials, chosen for their relevance to the scientific and engineering communities. The network will address these problems in a highly multidisciplinary way, involving scientists from applied mathematical groups as well as theoretical and experimental solid state physicists. Moreover, the combination of teams forms a geographically representative picture of the relevant research in Europe, including groups from East-Europe, Mediterranean countries and less-favoured regions and is supported by a US team consisting of exceptional researchers. Although recently contacts between these different communities have increased, the variety and complexity of the different approaches still requires special training and transfer of knowledge opportunities for early stage as well as experienced researchers to ensure new and continuing cross-talk between their members.

The research is organised into four general objectives. The first combines all characterisation techniques and defines the concrete model systems chosen for the experiments, such as shape memory materials, ferroelectrics and materials with enhanced magnetoresistance. The three others deal with generic theoretical and numerical approaches to phase transformations and related aspects. The identified tasks imply strong collaborations between different teams

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