Earthquakes occur on planar faults that often mark the boundaries between tectonic plates that collide or slide against each other. During an earthquake, sudden slip on the fault releases elastic energy stored in the earth's crust or upper mantle, resulting in the generation of seismic waves, which cause ground-shaking that can be destructive to man-made structures. Italy, the host country of ESOF 2020, sits on the boundary where the African and Eurasian tectonic plates converge, making it one of the Mediterranean countries with the highest seismic risk. This session brings together seismologists and engineers, who are contributing to advance the knowledge boundaries through innovative and ground-breaking research on the causes and effects of earthquakes. The presentations from these scientists address a variety of topics ranging from: Knowledge on fluid injection induced earthquakes (FIE) mechanisms over entire seismic cycles, leading to better understanding and eventually management of the occurrence of induced seismicity, an increasingly hot topic in geo-engineering; Increased understanding and forecasting of earthquakes based on integrated use of data, data products, and facilities from research infrastructures in Europe; Novel approach to monitoring seismic deformation caused by active faults on the seafloor (largely inaccessible to seismological instruments), using underwater communication cables in earthquake warning systems; Minor earthquakes and tremors caused by human activity that alters the stresses and strains on the Earth's crust, known as induced seismicity.