The IEEE MTT-S 2015 International Microwave Symposium (IMS) welcomed a record-breaking 904 booths from 620 exhibitors to the show floor opening Tuesday, May 19 at 9 a.m. as part of IMS2015 May 17-22 at the Phoenix Convention Center. IMS, the annual conference and exhibition of the IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society (MTT-S),is the premier international meeting for technologists involved in all aspects of microwave theory and practice. The symposium last visited Phoenix in 2001.

“This year’s conference incorporates innovative additions that will play off of the exciting developments in the microwave industry and provide an enriching experience for the thousands of professionals who converge in Phoenix,” said Vijay Nair, IMS2015 symposium general chair. “The high level of participation illustrates this stimulating time for the microwave and RF industry and the unlimited possibilities it presents for society.”

Along with the three-day exhibition and full schedule of 75 technical sessions, IMS2015 will also feature a mind-controlled car racing experience coined “Thinking Forward.” Using the Emotiv Insight, an EEG headset manufactured by Emotiv and powered by IEEE standards and research, attendees go “head-to-head” in a drag race in which the cars are powered by each driver’s thoughts. This hands-on demonstration showcases how microwave and RF technology makes many of today’s greatest innovations possible.

The “Thinking Forward” racing experience is a part of the symposium’s Wearables & Wireless Pavilion, which showcases emerging wearable electronics that utilize RF and microwave technologies. Curated and sponsored by Intel and Wireless Design and Development, the Pavilion will feature a number of consumer-facing technologies including robots, an Edison-powered quadcopter and ingredients for light-up garments and tapestries. In addition, the symposium will include its first ever RF Bootcamp, a three-quarter day course on Wednesday, May 20, for newcomers to the microwave world.

The intersection of health and engineering will be a major theme of IMS2015, with both the symposium’s plenary and closing speakers addressing how microwave and RF technology is driving developments in health monitoring and health care. In his plenary session address, “Soft Assemblies of Radios, Sensors and Circuits for the Skin," on Monday, May 18, University of Illinois’ Swanlund Chair Professor John Rogers will focus on skin-like technology that has the potential to provide clinical-quality health monitoring capabilities. Agilent Technologies’ Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President Dr. Darlene Solomon will lead the symposium’s closing ceremony on Thursday, May 21, with her keynote, “The Century of Biology is Great for Engineering,” which will center on how breakthroughs in cellular biology will enable advances in biology-based engineering. The symposium will also feature technical sessions, panels and workshops that address how microwave and RF technology is impacting health care.

IMS2015 also marks the debut of the new IMS branding and tagline, “Connecting Minds. Exchanging Ideas.” Designed to capture the symposium’s position as the premier event for the world’s thinkers to connect, the new green and blue “chat bubble” logo will be used at all subsequent symposiums to create a cohesive look from year to year.

As the centerpiece of Microwave Week 2015, IMS2015 will also share the stage with the RFIC Symposium and the ARFTG Conference. The conference consists of a full week of events, including technical paper presentations, workshops and tutorials, and an exhibition featuring more than 620 companies.

IMS at a Glance:

• Number of exhibitor booths: 904 (from a total of 620 companies)
• Number of new exhibitors: 67
• Top five countries by number of exhibitors:
  • USA – 457
  • China – 30
  • Korea – 26
  • Germany – 12
  • Great Britain – 11
• Technical program: 75 technical sessions and 2 poster sessions

For more information, visit www.ims2015.org.