The common denominator of all projects in area A is to understand and characterize the role of the quantum measurement in determining quantum cooperative dynamics. At its core is the investigation of how measurement and measurement back action establish quantum correlations, and how the emerging correlated states are robust against perturbations by the environment. The range of quantum platforms employed for the experiments in area A display a rich diversity, i.e., trapped ions, color centers in diamond, organic molecules, coherent electrons, spin ensembles and x-ray photons.