Konstantinos Papanikolaou began his studies in Structural Engineering at the University of Stuttgart in Germany, which over the years is considered to be top ranked in the world in Engineering Sciences. Several well-known Professors have worked at the University in the past, like Prof. Leonhardt (Department of Concrete Construction Technology) and Prof. Steierwald (Department of Highway Engineering, considered by many as the founded father of Modern Highway Design).

Konstantinos Papanikolaou studied under Prof. Schlaich (Concrete Construction Technology), Prof. Smoltczyk (Geotechnical Engineering), Prof. Otto Frey (Light-Weight Structures), Prof. Ioannis Argyris (Finite-Element Design and Analysis) and Prof. Eligehausen (Construction Materials – Anchoring Technology), etc. He establishes an engineering consultancy company in Stuttgart, Germany. Previously he was working for the well known bridge-designer Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bechert, at his consultancy office.

During this period in the office of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bechert he designed numerous precast highway and railway bridges. In March 1994 he founds an engineering consultancy office in Athens and in 2002 the company evolved into INSTAT S.A. Meanwhile Konstantinos Papanikolaou obtains a degree in Welding Engineering.