Born in Milan, in 1953 Salvini was responsible for the construction of the first Italian circular particle accelerator, the electron synchrotron of Frascati ("elettrosincrotrone di Frascati").

[1] Between 1966 and 1970 he was president of the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN).

[1] Salvini took part in the CERN experiment that led to the discovery of the W and Z bosons.

[2] He served as president of the Accademia dei Lincei from 1990 to 1994.

[1] He was Minister of University, Scientific Research and Technology in the Dini 1995-1996 cabinet.