The newly established International Platform for Reducing Earthquake Disaster (IPRED) is a platform for collaborative research, training and education in the field of seismology and earthquake engineering. The International Institute of Seismology and Earthquake Engineering (IISEE) acts as this platform’s 'Centre of Excellence'. Supported by UNESCO, IISEE was established in Japan in 1962, it is dedicated to training researchers and engineers in developing countries. The main objects of this initiative are the following:

• To exchange information and propose plans on collaborative research, training, and education regarding seismology and earthquake engineering in order to reduce disasters due to earthquakes, especially on buildings and housing.
• To address policy-relevant issues related to the reduction of earthquake disaster risks and implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action, including the formulation of recommendations on priorities of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR).
• To establish a system to dispatch experts to earthquake stricken countries in order to carry out post-earthquake field investigations and draw lessons for future risk reduction, by utilizing the worldwide network of the graduates of training courses organized by the IISEE (over 1400 graduates from some 100 countries).

Following the kickoff meeting in Japan in June 2007, the 1st Session of IPRED was held at UNESCO in Paris in July 2008. It was attended by representatives of major earthquake-prone countries (Chile, Egypt, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Peru, Romania, and Turkey).The 2nd Session of IPRED was held in Istanbul in July 2009 and the 3rd Session of IPRED was held in Padang in July 2010.