Thomas Zwick, Vadim Issakov, Akanksha Bhutani
It is our great pleasure to welcome you to the 2023 European Microwave Week (EuMW), which will be held in Berlin, Germany, on 17–22 September 2023. For the very first time in the 26-year-long history of successful EuMWs, the EuMW is being held in Berlin!
Berlin is the German answer to New York as it is a city that never sleeps, or better yet, where you never have to sleep. Berlin, the capital of Germany and its largest city, is nine times larger than Paris. It is probably the only city in the world that is equally captivating to both partygoers and history buffs. Berlin is full of contrasts, and it stands out from the rest of Europe. The second you’re out on the streets, you feel history surrounding you. The most famous among its landmarks are the Brandenburg Gate (Figure 1) and the remains of the Berlin Wall. The 155-km-long Berlin Wall, which divided East and West Germany from 1961 to 1989, was torn down, leading to the unification of Germany into one state. The remains of the Berlin Wall at the East Side Gallery is the longest open-air gallery in the world (1,316 m long) and showcases more than 100 murals from artists all over the world (Figure 2). Furthermore, a wide range of ancient cathedrals, museums, memorials, and other iconic buildings, such as the Reichstag, the Berlin Cathedral, the Holocaust Memorial, the Victory Column, Charlottenburg Palace, the Gendarmenmarkt, the German Museum of Technology, and the DDR Museum, will immerse your senses into the annals of German history (Figure 3).
Figure 1. Brandenburg Gate. (Source: https://unsplash.com/de.)
Figure 2. East Side Gallery at the Berlin Wall. (Source: https://unsplash.com/de.)
Figure 3. From left to right: TV tower, Reichstag, Oberbaum Bridge, and TV tower close-up. (Source: https://unsplash.com/de.)
For the partygoers, Berlin’s nightlife is renowned throughout Europe. Berlin offers a plethora of “a.m. to p.m.” bars, clubs, and restaurants, which means at any time of the day or night, you can have something to eat or drink, or you can dance on a table. If you truly want to, you could party for 24 h straight.
Berlin can be conveniently reached from all around the world through its world-class international airport, the Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt, which came into operation in 2020. It is located 40 km south of Berlin and has excellent train connections to downtown. Berlin has exceptionally good public transportation, which allows one to get to any point of the city very efficiently and much more conveniently than by car. Moreover, Berlin is well connected to all of the German and European cities by high-speed trains. For example, you can travel at a high speed of 300 km/h on the InterCity Express Sprinter in less than 4 h from Berlin to Munich. To make your visit to Berlin more convenient, we have included full usage of Berlin’s public transportation into your conference badge, including the trip from/to the airport. EuMW 2023 will be held in hub27 (Figure 4), which is part of the Berlin ExpoCenter City (Messe Berlin). Hub27 is a recently inaugurated modern conference center with a large exhibition hall and can be conveniently reached by public transportation (S-Bahn stop “Messe Süd”).
Figure 4. Conference venue: Messe Berlin—hub27. (Source: https://www.messe-berlin.de.)
The EuMW 2023 logo and slogan (Figure 5) are inspired by the two most famous landmarks of Berlin: the Brandenburg Gate and the torn-down Berlin Wall. The slogan for EuMW 2023, “Waves Beyond Walls,” emphasizes that microwaves can unite and bring people closer. We are convinced that science can help tear down “walls.”
Figure 5. The EuMW 2023 logo and slogan.
Continuing in the footsteps of previous EuMWs, EuMW 2023 includes the European Microwave Conference, the European Microwave Integrated Circuits Conference (EuMIC), the European Radar Conference (EuRAD), the Defense, Security and Space Forum, the Automotive Forum, the 5G to 6G Forum, numerous workshops covering a wide range of topics, focused and special sessions, and special events, such as Women in Microwaves and two intersociety technology panels by the IEEE Microwave Theory and Technology Society. The opening and closing plenary sessions of each of the three conferences feature keynote lectures by internationally renowned leaders in their fields. Additionally, the annual European Microwave Exhibition, which is by far the largest RF and microwave trade show in Europe, is held in conjunction with the conferences. The exhibition also includes a series of technical seminars and exhibitor workshops describing commercial products and processes.
Social events in ambient locations throughout Berlin will allow you to network with colleagues in a friendly atmosphere. Since meeting and networking are vital for our community to exchange ideas, make connections, mentor younger colleagues, meet old friends, and make new ones, we organized many social activities, such as the EuMIC dinner, the automotive forum dinner, the welcome reception, gala dinner, technical program committee lunch, and EuRAD lunch.
Participation by students and Young Professionals is strongly encouraged. We have organized many activities specifically for students, namely student and doctoral schools, a get-together for students and Young Professionals, prizes and grants, an extended student helpers program, and, most importantly, a Student Career event, where students can meet and network with potential employers while having a party in a club in Berlin. Detailed information about the Student Career event is available at https://www.eumweek.com/students/StudentCareerEvent.html.
Our thanks go to all of the colleagues in the EuMW 2023 organization team who have volunteered to organize this event, dedicated their time, and spent tireless effort putting together an excellent technical and social program. We also thank the European Microwave Association and Horizon House for their continued support and help.
Come and join us in Berlin and enjoy EuMW 2023—Europe’s premier microwave, RF, wireless, and radar event—and the city of Berlin! In Berlin, you will experience the exciting history of divided and reunified Germany and realize the importance of international exchange for peace and prosperity. We look forward to welcoming all of you to our capital!
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MMM.2023.3277402