the great opportunity for that action was the development of the new technique of pre-stressed concrete, in which he was scientifically involved since 1938, during his first research period. after the war, since 1945 to 1961, as director of the cnr consiglio nazionale delle ricerche (italian national research council) in turin, franco levi had an essential role in the international discussion on the theoretical and practical aspects of this innovative technique and on the establishment of design rules to be internationally agreed.