An “Other” Side of IMS

By, A Long-Time Conference Attendee

Recently I had the opportunity to attend the IEEE-MTT-S International Microwave Symposium (IMS) in Washington, DC.  I was really looking forward to hearing and learning from attending the outstanding technical paper sessions, panel discussions, and various workshops. It was during a lull in the sessions that a colleague said they were going to go to the exhibits to meet one of the authors and asked me to follow. Honestly, when the request was made, I did not fully understand what my friend was talking about. Being a good friend, I decided to follow along.

Let me tell you, it was a most wonderful decision! 

Who Knew the Exhibit Hall Was Where the Action Was?

When we rounded the corner to take the escalator to the show floor, it was difficult to understand the sight. There appeared to be endless rows of exhibitor booths. People were stopping at booths to have discussions. Later, I learned there were actually over 800 booths representing more than 500 companies. Some large, some small, and some in-between.

I ended up following my friend to a booth with the author of a paper presented earlier that morning. The walk to the booth was full of impromptu networking “hello’s” and “we should get together” from friends and colleagues. Upon reaching the correct booth, the technical exchange was more engaging than most post-session hallway discussions/interactions. The author was able to demonstrate in more detail the features utilizing the information and materials within the booth.

Soon after, found myself wandering around the show floor, exploring and learning about a whole different aspect of IMS that for years had gone unrealized. There were all varieties of booths, exhibits, and things to learn and experience.

Engaging Technical Discussions and Networking in the Exhibit Hall

• Technical discussions were everywhere. 
• Subject matter experts were all over discussing the benefits and features of some of their newer products. 
• The MicroApps area provided the opportunity to sit and engage with pseudo-technical presentations from different companies about their products. 

Start-Up Pavillion Provided Cutting-Edge Technology

As I wandered the exhibit hall, I came upon an area called the “Start-Up Pavilion.” Here, there were multiple new, recently founded, cutting-edge companies demonstrating their latest developments.

When I got tired of walking around, there was coffee, tea, and finger foods to enjoy in the networking areas. There were even some booths offering your favorite adult beverage to enjoy. Should that not have been enough, on Wednesday afternoon, there was a full reception with even more adult beverages and food to enjoy.

The Exhibit Hall Provided Technical Insights, Too

Later that evening, while enjoying dinner with colleagues, we reflected on the day’s activities. It was surprising the number of new things I learned from attending both the technical conference and experiencing the exhibition. Several friends asked, “Where did you see that paper?” They were amazed when I told them on the exhibition floor.

IMS is a very important event in the Radio Frequency (RF), Microwave, and Terahertz technology sector. The technical papers are absolutely the best. However, much like an iceberg, a great portion of the IMS is contained within the exhibition experience. Hopefully, you, too will have an opportunity to explore the treasures of IMS and the exhibition floor.