The 2025 IEEE Microwave Theory and Technology Society (MTT-S) International Microwave Symposium (IMS2025) concluded a landmark week in San Francisco, 15-20 June 2025. The Symposium drew an influential global audience from 55 countries, including experts from industry-leading companies such as Boeing, Meta, Amazon, BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, Qualcomm, Samsung and Google. This year’s event underscored IMS’s profound industry impact, featuring its largest Exhibit Floor since 2019 and a Technical Program that showcased critical advancements shaping key technology sectors.
“IMS2025 in San Francisco demonstrated the amazing power of interdisciplinary collaboration to drive RF and microwave advancements,” said Steven Rosenau, IMS2025 General Chair. “We saw cutting-edge examples of innovative designs and technology-leading development that crossed traditional boundaries, enabling solutions to highly complex challenges in our complicated global economy. As MTT President Goutam Chattopadhyay called for in his Plenary Welcome, our collaborative spirit and focus on world-changing solutions can enable new technical advances and provide industry-changing products that will benefit all of humankind. This was easily visible across IMS2025 and highlights the unique value IMS delivers each year.”
IMS2025 HIGHLIGHTS
IMS2025 by the Numbers
- 8,000+ registered attendees representing 55 countries
- 504 exhibiting companies, including 98 new to IMS
- 14 startups were showcased in the StartUp Pavilion
- 200+ education sessions.
Exhibit Floor Highlights Real-World Applications and Innovation
The IMS2025 Exhibition, featuring the event’s largest Exhibit Floor since 2019, served as a central showcase for innovation. Industry leaders such as Analog Devices, Mi-Wave, Qorvo, Keysight, MACOM, Eravant, Marki Microwave, Rohde & Schwartz, Samtec and more presented advanced solutions. These developments addressed practical applications across critical sectors like 6G infrastructure, AI-integrated RF systems, quantum-enabled technologies and secure communications.
“This year is our biggest year here; we have the largest footprint ever. And it's a great opportunity for us to tell the full brand story of Eravant. IMS is the perfect opportunity to do that because you have customers and players from all across the ecosystem of RF. I also think IMS really embodies what I love about the RF industry, because the RF industry is one where people want one another to be successful and, there are so many opportunities to connect with people and to do thought leadership and to share ideas about why the technology is becoming increasingly relevant for the ecosystem of the future,” said Wendy Shu, CEO, Eravant.
Attendees engaged directly with technology experts through live demonstrations and in-depth discussions, exploring solutions for their most pressing technical challenges. This interaction facilitated the discovery of new approaches and applications. The active StartUp Pavilion also highlighted innovation, providing a key platform for emerging ventures to connect with global industry leaders and present new ideas.
“I think there's something from the energy that you just can't get anywhere else. You can feel it just as you're coming down the stairs. It's like there's a buzz in the building, and people are hyped to be here. [We have] the ability to talk with, interact with, chat with, folks who are also in the industry, you talk with your peers about what they're experiencing, and I think that's just so valuable,” said Connie Bates, director of Business Development, Engagement and Marketing, METALfx.
IMS2025 Spotlights Pivotal Shifts in RF & Microwave Technology
Key technological currents defining the future of the RF and microwave landscape were a central focus at IMS2025. The Symposium highlighted several prominent industry trends poised to make a significant real-world impact:
- 6G Readiness: Accelerated focus on mmWave and THz technologies and next-generation network infrastructure
- AI-Integrated Design: Increased adoption of AI-driven tools for optimizing RF design and system diagnostics
- Quantum Integration: Growth in quantum computing applications and quantum-enhanced RF sensing capabilities
- Secure Aerospace & Defense: Innovations in resilient communication systems, advanced radar solutions and robust security frameworks
- Wireless Power & Smart Mobility: Emerging RF solutions supporting smart energy transfer, automotive radar systems and connected vehicles.
Evident throughout the Symposium, these trends highlight the industry's rapid evolution and its important role in enabling future technologies.
Technical Program Delivers Rich, Industry-Relevant Content
IMS2025’s comprehensive Technical Program featured more than 200 technical sessions, Workshops and Bootcamps, covering the hottest topics in the industry. Key areas included field, device and circuit tech; passive components; emerging technical areas; active devices; and systems & applications. Participants gained significant insights from peer-reviewed research presentations, interactive panel discussions and skill-building sessions designed to address real-world challenges and industry trends.
Plenary Sessions Provide Strategic Insights
Highlighting industry direction and strategic foresight, the IMS2025 Plenary Session and Closing Session featured renowned speakers. Arogyaswami Paulraj, Emeritus Professor (Research) in the Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, explored developments in antenna arrays and their emerging applications in communications and sensing. Jin Bains, CEO, Mini-Circuits, emphasized innovations in sustainability, quantum computing and wireless infrastructure. In the IMS Closing Session, David F. Welch, Ph.D., Founder and CEO, AttoTude, shared forward-looking insights on scalable, low-power interconnect technologies essential for next-generation data centers.
Networking Opportunities Strengthen Industry Connections
IMS2025 also facilitated extensive networking and collaboration. A major highlight included the IMS Welcome Reception at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), where connections were made surrounded by iconic works of art. Additional dedicated receptions, like the Women in Microwaves (WIM) Reception and Young Professionals (YP) events, provided important forums for relationship-building and knowledge exchange, fostering an environment of industry-wide cooperation.
MTT-S Awards Celebrate Industry Excellence
IMS2025 honored notable industry contributions and achievements through the prestigious MTT-S Awards. Award recipients demonstrated leadership, technical innovation and impactful contributions to the field. Full details of the award winners can be found here.
A NEW VISION FOR IMS2026 AND BEYOND
Beginning with the Boston event in 2026, IMS will be known as the IEEE MTT Symposia (IMS).
IMS2026 will kick off with the IEEE MTT-S RF Integrated Circuits (RFIC) Symposium, then introduce two new symposia formed out of traditional IMS technical content, the IEEE MTT-S RF Technology & Techniques (RFTT) Symposium and the IEEE MTT-S RF Systems & Applications (RFSA) Symposium, before concluding the week with the ARFTG Microwave Measurement Conference.
This forward-looking change is driven by the need to better serve the RF and microwave community as the industry increasingly focuses on system-level applications and interdisciplinary solutions, ensuring the event structure and content resonate deeply with where the industry is heading and the evolving needs of its professionals.
Gregory Lyons, IMS2026 General Co-Chair, said, “Our aim is to mirror the industry’s changing priorities so that IMS remains the most relevant and valuable gathering for our community. IMS2026 in Boston will bring this new vision to life, offering even richer content and deeper professional connections that directly address how our field is advancing.”
IMS2026 will be held in Boston, Mass., from 7-12 June 2026. The event promises expanded programming, enriched technical content and enhanced collaboration opportunities, building on the momentum established throughout the history of IMS.
Timothy Hancock, IMS2026 General Co-Chair, added, “The entire IMS2026 team is already energized and working to build upon this year's success. We eagerly anticipate welcoming the global RF and microwave community to Boston for an innovative and collaborative event that reflects the true trajectory of our industry.”
For more information about IMS2026, visit https://ims-ieee.org/ims2026-boston.