Report on the 2026 IEEE MTT-S Nanjing Academic Visit

1. Overview of the Academic Visit

The 2026 IEEE MTT-S Nanjing Academic Visit was successfully held in Nanjing, China, from May 4 to May 8, 2026. The event was initiated by Prof. Wenquan Che, Chair of the IEEE MTT-S China AdHoc Committee and IEEE Fellow, and was jointly organized by IEEE MTT-S, IEEE AP-MTT-EMC Joint Nanjing Chapter, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (NUAA), and Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications (NJUPT). The academic visit aimed to strengthen international academic exchange, promote cooperation in microwave theory and technology, and enhance communication between leading international scholars and Chinese universities and industries.

The visit primarily focused on hosting several distinguished international experts and scholars in the field of microwave engineering and related technologies, including:

• Goutam Chattopadhyay, 2025 President of IEEE MTT-S, IEEE Fellow,NASA-JPL/Caltech, USA
• Nuno Borges Carvalho, 2023President of IEEE MTT-S, IEEE Fellow, Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal
• Zhizhang (David) Chen, Chairof IEEE MTT-S Education Committee, Standing Committees, IEEE Fellow
• Imran Mehdi, IEEE Fellow, NASA-JPL/Caltech, USA

Several accompanying family members also joined the visit. A dedicated reception and organization team was established to coordinate transportation, accommodation, conference organization, campus visits, and cultural activities throughout the event.

 

2. Major Academic Activities

2.1 2026 IEEE MTT-S Nanjing Postgraduate Paper Competition

One of the major activities during the academic visit was the 2026 IEEE MTT-S Nanjing Postgraduate Paper Competition, held at Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications on May 6, 2026.

This competition was co-organized under the honorary chairmanship of Prof. Wenquan Che, Chair of the IEEE MTT-S China Ad Hoc Committee. Prof. Linwei Yu, Dean of the School of Electronic and Optical Engineering as well as the School of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology) at Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications (NJUPT), served as the Chair of the Judging Committee. The judging panel comprised 15 distinguished experts, including: Prof. Zhizhang Chen (Dalhousie University), Prof. Goutam Chattopadhyay (2025 IEEE MTT-S President)., rof. Imran Mehdi (California Institute of Technology), Prof. Yijun Feng (Nanjing University), and so on. This authoritative composition demonstrates the competition’s academic rigor and ensures its meticulous impartiality.

Fig. 1 Opening Ceremony

Fig. 2 Expert Panel Review Station

This thesis competition is structured around four dedicated poster presentation tracks. Participating graduate students showcased their research achievements through on-site presentations and academic exchanges. Under the meticulous evaluation of the judging panel, all submissions underwent rigorous assessment

Fig. 3 Award Conferment Ceremony

Following comprehensive expert evaluations and meticulous deliberation by the Judging Committee, the final awards have been conclusively determined: 1) First Prize: 2 recipients; 2)  Second Prize: 6 recipients; 3) Third Prize: 8 recipients. During the award ceremony, distinguished committee members presented the honors and extended personal congratulations to the accomplished recipients.

 

Fig. 4 Official Memorial Photograph

The competition provided an important academic platform for postgraduate students to present their latest research achievements in microwave theory, communication systems, millimeter-wave technologies, and related areas. International experts and senior scholars attended the event, communicated with participating students, and provided valuable academic guidance and professional feedback.

The event effectively encouraged innovation among young researchers and strengthened academic interaction between Chinese graduate students and internationally recognized scholars. It also enhanced students’ understanding of current research frontiers and publication standards in IEEE journals and conferences.

 

2.2 2026 IEEE MTT-S Nanjing Workshop on Frontiers of Microwave Theory and Technology

The second core activity was the 2026 IEEE MTT-S Nanjing Workshop on Frontiers of Microwave Theory and Technology, held on May 7, 2026, at the College of Electronic and Information Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (NUAA). The workshop was co-organized under the honorary chairmanship of Prof. Wenquan Che, Chair of the IEEE MTT-S China Ad Hoc Committee, and Prof. Zhangcheng Hao, Chair of the IEEE AP-MTT-EMC Joint Nanjing Chapter. Prof. Shilong Pan, IEEE Fellow, and Prof. Wanchen Yang from NUAA served as organizer and co-chairs of the event.

The workshop brought together distinguished scholars from leading academic institutions, with discussions centered on cutting-edge developments across a broad range of topics, including microwave theory, microwave photonics, wireless power transfer, metasurfaces, computational electromagnetics, and millimeter-wave technologies. The event attracted approximately 100 attendees, comprising scholars, professors, and graduate students from universities in and around Nanjing, as well as participants traveling from as far as Chengdu, Sichuan Province.

Fig. 5 Group photo of the 2026 IEEE MTT-S Nanjing Workshop on Frontiers of Microwave Theory and Technology

The program consisted of an opening ceremony, a group photo session, seven invited talks, and in-depth academic discussions. In addition to distinguished experts representing IEEE MTT-S, three prominent professors from Chinese universities were invited to deliver presentations: Prof. Shilong Pan from NUAA, Prof. Yijun Feng from Nanjing University, and Prof. Jixin Chen from Southeast University. The invited presentations were as follows:

• Goutam Chattopadhyay:Introduction to IEEE MTT-S
• Nuno Borges Carvalho:Towards Practical SWIPT: Energy-Aware Wireless Systems for Future IoT and Space Applications
• Shilong Pan:Microwave Photonics for 6G
• Yijun Feng:Directional Metasurfaces: Designs and Applications
• Imran Mehdi:Best Practices for Writing Papers that can be Accepted by IEEE
• Jixin Chen:Research Progress on Millimeter-Wave Large-Scale Arrays and Chips

 

Fig. 6 Invited talks given by participating experts

Fig. 7 Group photo of participating experts

The workshop attracted faculty members, researchers, and graduate students from Nanjing University, Southeast University, NUAA, NJUPT, and other institutions. The event created a strong academic atmosphere and facilitated high-level discussions on future technological trends.

In the afternoon, the international guests participated in a campus visit at NUAA, including visits to representative YuFengYuan campus area. Afterwards, the delegation visited MLOPTIC Corporation in Jiangning District to learn about industrial applications and commercialization progress in microwave and photonic technologies. The company visit promoted university-industry collaboration and showcased local technological innovation capabilities.

Fig. 8 Group Photo of the visit to MLOPTIC Co., Ltd

 

3. Significance of the Academic Visit

The 2026 IEEE MTT-S Nanjing Academic Visit achieved significant academic and organizational outcomes.

Academically, the event strengthened international cooperation and enhanced communication between Chinese researchers and internationally recognized experts in microwave theory and technology. The workshop and student competition provided valuable opportunities for young scholars and students to engage with world-leading researchers and gain exposure to cutting-edge research directions.

Institutionally, the event improved the international visibility and academic influence of NUAA and NJUPT within the global microwave engineering community. The successful organization of high-level academic activities also demonstrated the universities’ capabilities in hosting international conferences and academic exchanges.

Culturally, the visit promoted mutual understanding and friendship through carefully organized city tours and cultural experiences, creating a positive and welcoming environment for international collaboration.

 

4. Experience and Lessons Learned

Several valuable experiences and lessons were gained from organizing this academic visit:

4.1 Valuable experiences

• Early preparation and detailed scheduling were essential for coordinating flights, accommodation, transportation, and academic activities efficiently.
• Close communication among organizing committees, volunteers, and partner institutions significantly improved overall coordination and execution.
• Providing bilingual materials, clear schedules, and personalized reception arrangements greatly enhanced the experience of international guests.
• Backup plans for transportation, weather, and equipment issues proved important for ensuring smooth operation of all activities.

4.2 Tips for further events

• It was important to understand guests’dietary preferences, cultural habits, and food restrictions in advance, including allergies, vegetarian requirements, and other dietary taboos. This helped ensure a more considerate and comfortable reception experience for international guests.
• Meal arrangements should be planned more carefully according to the actual number of participants in order to reasonably control the quantity of dishes and reduce unnecessary food waste while still maintaining appropriate hospitality standards.
• Future events could further improve industrial collaboration arrangements, strictly control the presentationtime, and increase opportunities for student interaction with invited experts.

 

5. Conclusion

Overall, the 2026 IEEE MTT-S Nanjing Academic Visit was a successful international academic exchange activity that effectively combined academic discussion, industry interaction, and cultural communication. The event laid a strong foundation for future international cooperation and further promoted the development of microwave theory and technology research.