On July 2nd 2020, the Governing Council of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) approved the appointment of Antonio Aguado, founding partner of Smart Engineering and member of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, as professor emeritus of the UPC for a term 3 years, extendable. The appointment as professor emeritus is granted annually and represents a recognition of the professional career and contribution to the Polytechnic University of Catalonia for at least 10 years in the field of teaching, research, management and technology transfer to the University.

Antonio Aguado, University Professor since November 1987 (https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=7005541270), retires at the peak of its production and with all the official recognitions, having of the highest levels of recognition in teaching five-year periods, research and transfer six-year periods. He is awarded the Jaume Vicens Vives 2008 award for his career and its innovative aspects, counting on the warmth and recognition of the students he has taught.

In the research field, he has a similar career, being the author of many articles in scientific journals and technical books. He has been director of more than 55 doctoral theses; of which more than 50% have resulted in successful careers within the university environment, which highlights the role of Professor Aguado as a trainer. As a result of all these activities, it has received various awards and recognitions from scientific and professional associations, both national and international (ACI, ACE, ACHE, ALCONPAT, CANMET, CICCP, RILEM, SPANCOLD).

Within the search for balance in his activity, he has had a relevant work in the field of knowledge transfer to the private and industrial sector, being a paradigm in the university sector his strategy of combining applied research with transfer in the same direction technological. Its activity in technology transfer agreements, developed through the UPC, as well as its participation in the Industrial Doctorate programs of both AGAUR and MINECO, is noteworthy, being a pioneer in this sense in the introduction of these programs. In 2013, he was a co-founder partner of Smart Engineering, a technology-based company and spin-off of the UPC.