Rui Pinho graduated in civil engineering from the University of Porto (Portugal) in 1995. He then began his research career at Imperial College in London, obtaining an MSc and PhD in earthquake engineering. He then moved to Pavia in 2001.
He is a full professor at the Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture of the University of Pavia. He has held several high-level academic and scientific positions throughout his career. His professional path reflects a strong commitment to applied research, technological innovation, and advanced training. He is the co-founder and previously the technical director of Seismosoft, a company specialised in developing advanced software tools for earthquake engineering, and from 2009 to 2013, the founding secretary-general of the GEM Foundation (Global Earthquake Model), an OECD-backed organisation dedicated to the development of global seismic risk models.
Professor Pinho is the author of more than 400 scientific publications and has been invited as a keynote speaker at numerous international conferences. He has led major research projects funded by national and European institutions and has contributed significantly to developing advanced seismic vulnerability assessment and risk reduction methodologies. His achievements have been recognised with several prestigious awards, including the EERI Shah’s Innovation Prize and multiple best paper awards from international structural engineering associations. In July 2024, he was also Chair of WCEE, the World Conference on Earthquake Engineering held in Milan.
On April 15th, 2025, he was appointed the President of the Eucentre Foundation.
Eucentre is a non-profit private law foundation whose mission is to conduct research and provide training and services in earthquake and safety engineering
Eucentre promotes science, research and innovation for the benefit of the community, offering targeted methodologies and concrete solutions for prevention, safety and resilience. It collaborates with institutions and companies to disseminate competencies for the common good.
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Eucentre carries out research activities in earthquake engineering and risk reduction through laboratory testing and numerical analysis, aiming to improve the seismic performance of structures and soils and to develop innovative seismic retrofitting techniques.
The Foundation promotes diverse and high-quality training activities aimed at academic and professional contexts, with constantly updated and innovative programs and initiatives designed to meet the evolving needs of the sector and society
Eucentre ensures communication aimed at informing institutions, professionals, and citizens about ongoing activities and projects, with the goal of disseminating useful and accessible content and knowledge. It contributes to promoting a shared and informed culture of prevention and resilience.
