Prof. Vassilis Kostopoulos | Engineering Achievements | Best Researcher Award
Prof. Vassilis Kostopoulos | University of Patras | Greece
Professor Vassilis Kostopoulos is a leading Greek academic in applied mechanics, composite materials, and aerospace engineering. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens and a PhD in Applied Mechanics from the University of Patras, specializing in wave propagation, scattering, and non-destructive testing of composite materials. He has served as Professor and Director of the Applied Mechanics & Vibrations Laboratory at the University of Patras, contributing significantly to its international visibility and research impact. He has held prestigious international appointments as a Visiting Scientist at JRC Petten in the Netherlands, as a Visiting Professor at the University of Delaware in the United States, and most recently at George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mureș in Romania. Professor Kostopoulos has played influential roles in major European aerospace and composite-materials initiatives, serving on the Technical Committee of Clean Aviation, the Advisory Council for Aviation Research and Innovation in Europe, and the Council of the European Society for Composite Materials, where he also served as President. He has additionally contributed to several European research and innovation program committees and evaluation panels. His expertise spans a broad teaching portfolio at undergraduate and graduate levels, including mechanics, composite materials, wave propagation, elasticity, fatigue, structural design, non-destructive inspection, and aerospace technologies. His research interests include lightweight composite structures, structural health monitoring, nano-engineered composites, high-strain-rate behavior, additive manufacturing, space technologies, unmanned aerial systems, and biomechanics. Professor Kostopoulos has an extensive scholarly record, with hundreds of publications in international journals and conferences, several books and book chapters, invited lectures, and numerous technical reports. He has coordinated a large number of international research projects funded by European and global organizations, supervised many PhD and MSc theses, co-organized numerous international conferences, and holds multiple European, US, and national patents. His work has earned thousands of citations, high bibliometric indices, and multiple international awards in aerospace, innovation, and space-related competitions.
Featured Publications
Karatzas, E., Nikolaou, E., Pitsis, A., Alexopoulos, S., Roussos, S., Georgantakis, E., Lappas, V., & Kostopoulos, V. (2026). Conceptual design and analysis of a tube-launched fixed-wing UAV with integrated folding wing systems. Aerospace Science and Technology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ast.2025.111248
Moica, S., Lucian, T., Kostopoulos, V., & Mostafa, N. A. (2025). GenAI technology approach for sustainable warehouse management operations: A case study from the automotive sector. Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17209081
Tsokanas, P., Santandrea, F., Momm, G. G., Rajčić, V., Skejić, D., Rajnovic, D., da Silva, L. F. M., & Kostopoulos, V. (2025). Certification of adhesively bonded structures: Review and outlook. International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijadhadh.2025.104041
Bouzoukis, K.-P., Moraitis, G., Kostopoulos, V., & Lappas, V. (2025). An overview of CubeSat missions and applications. Aerospace. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace12060550
Nikolaou, E., Karatzas, E., Kilimtzidis, S., & Kostopoulos, V. (2025). Winglet design for class I mini UAV—Aerodynamic and performance optimization. Engineering Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.3390/engproc2025090111
Petropoulos, G. N., Tsokanas, P., Kotrotsos, A., & Kostopoulos, V. (2025). Recycled glass fibre–epoxy composites based on recovered fabrics from an environment-friendly combined solvolysis and thermolysis route. Composites Science and Technology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2025.111048