Chairman's Message

On behalf of the organizing committee and the IEEE Electron Devices Society, the Microwave Theory and Techniques Society, and the Solid-State Circuits Society, I invite you to be a part of the 2008 IEEE Compound Semiconductor IC Symposium (CSICS). This year’s symposium will be held October 12th – October 15th in Monterey, CA.

This year we celebrate 30 years of CSICS’ history. In 1979, the first meeting of the GaAs IC Symposium was held in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. At that time, the hot topic of the day was high speed digital integrated circuits, with many contributions from corporate labs in the US, Japan and Europe. Through the years, the GaAs IC Symposium grew in size and breadth as the fledgling field of GaAs integrated circuits explored its commercial potential. Corporate and academic programs in GaAs research lead to exciting advances in materials growth, device physics, higher integration levels and commercial applications. As GaAs technology matured, other III-V materials systems came into the mix. In 2004 in Monterey, CA, the Symposium changed its name to IEEE Compound Semiconductor IC Symposium (CSICS) to reflect the evolution of the III-V industry and the interests of its participants.

The CSIC Symposium is the preeminent international forum on developments in integrated circuits using compound semiconductors such as GaAs, InP, GaN, SiGe and other materials. Coverage embraces all aspects of the technology, from materials issues and device fabrication, through IC design and testing, high volume manufacturing, and system applications. And it is fitting that in this 30th year, we return to Monterey, CA, where so many meetings have been held, and where our members always enjoy reconnecting with each other.

This year, the IEEE CSICS is co-locating with the IEEE Bipolar and Bi-CMOS Circuits and Technology Meeting (BCTM) in order to encourage cross-fertilization of ideas and collaboration. Regular full attendees to the CSICS will have access to the BCTM program, and visa versa. Several social events will also allow interaction between our CSICS and BCTM colleagues. Events include the Sunday Evening Opening Reception, the Monday evening Technology Exhibition Opening Reception, the Tuesday Technology Exhibition Luncheon, and the Tuesday Theme Party at the Chateau Julien Winery. We also offer daily breakfast and AM/PM coffee breaks Monday through Wednesday.

The IEEE CSICS is also offering a short course entitled “Modeling Toolbox for RF Designers” on Sunday Oct. 12th, 2008. This short course covers current topics in modeling and design and will be taught by leading experts from industry and the government. In addition, we offer our “Primer Course” which is an excellent tutorial presented within the context of our Symposium technical program. The Primer Course is offered on Sunday Oct. 12th, 2008.

We hope you will join us again this year in Monterey!

William Peatman, Chair

2008 IEEE CSICS