Pedro Encarnação

Pedro Encarnação is a Senior Affiliate Professor and Deputy Academic Director of the MSc in Management at CATÓLICA-LISBON – Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP). He serves as President of AAATE – Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe (2024–2025), Visiting Professor at Universidad del Rosario in Bogotá, Colombia, and Senior Visiting Researcher at the School of Sociology and Social Policy, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Leeds, UK (2022-2025).

He received his B.Sc. degree in 1994, M.Sc. degree in 1998, and Ph.D. degree in 2002, all in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico – Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.

Dr. Encarnação's research focuses primarily on Rehabilitation Engineering, with special emphasis on robotic assistive technologies to support persons with disabilities. His work spans multiple disciplines including electrical engineering, computer science, and disability studies. He has made significant contributions to understanding how technology can enhance play and learning experiences for children with disabilities, and his research often takes a cross-cultural perspective as evidenced by studies conducted in Taiwan and Hong Kong. His expertise in nonlinear control systems has been applied to both ocean robotics and rehabilitation technologies, demonstrating his ability to bridge engineering principles with practical applications for improving quality of life. His research increasingly addresses the rights-based framework for assistive technologies, positioning technology access as a fundamental human right.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on assistive technologies for children with disabilities, particularly examining play as a fundamental right. His work shows a clear progression from technical engineering applications toward more human-centered, rights-based approaches that consider cultural contexts and policy implications. There's a notable shift toward examining the ethical dimensions of emerging technologies like AI in assistive robotics, while maintaining a strong foundation in practical engineering solutions.

• President of AAATE – Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe (2024-2025)

Dr. Encarnação has led significant research projects including LUDI: Play for Children with Disabilities (2014-2018), UARPIE: Using Assistive Robots to Promote Inclusive Education (2013-2015), and COMPSAR: Comparison of Physical and Simulated Robot Use by Children with Disabilities (2010-2012). His research involves collaboration with interdisciplinary teams across engineering, healthcare, and social sciences, reflecting the complex nature of assistive technology development and implementation.