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Influence of the IEEE Spain Section in the Spanish
Scientific-Technical System from 1968 to 2008: An
Historical Perspective
José A. Delgado-Penín
Signal Theory and Communications (TSC) Department
Technical University of Catalonia (TSC)
Barcelona, Spain
delpen@tsc.upc.edu
Abstract—In this paper it is presented an historical overview of
the IEEE Spain section from 1968 to 2008 and the influence of
the people of this Section in the Spanish scientific-technical
system. The IEEE Spain Section was recognized inside Region 8
of the IEEE in April 1968. The section has had nine chairs from
1968 to 2008. Aspects as historical frames of reference in Spain
and, data, facts and activities of the volunteers in different time
intervals are remembered. These aspects are related with the
membership, and student branches and your evolution,
participation in Region 8 activities, meetings and conferences,
and legal aspects affiliated with the recognized presence as
professional institution in Spain.
Keywords-component; IEEE Spain section; frames of
reference; Data, facts and activities; historical perspective
I. INTRODUCTION
Electrical and electronics engineers of the past and
Information and Communication technologists of today have
played a major role in shaping the society in which we live,
and are likely to play an ever greater role in the society of
tomorrow. The history of the territorial sections of the IEEE is
related to the socio-political events of the territory where that
exist. In case of Spain, forty years passed from 1968 to 2008
included a political development and scientific-technical
development in which the Spanish members of the IEEE have
had an important role. Aspects such as, historical frames of
reference in Spain, and data, facts and activities of the
volunteers in different time intervals of these last forty years
are remembered in the paragraphs that continue [1].
II. PRELUDE (1963-1967)
This interval from 1963 to 1967 was the prelude to build
and organize the new IEEE Spain section. When the new
organization of the IEEE in 1963 was born, this new
professional institution interested in Spain two little group of
people: about five people related with the AIEE and twenty
people approximately related with the IRE. That people
worked in the University and some industries related with
Electronics and Telecommunication engineering. Other aspects
related with the political and sociological circumstances of
Spain in this period must be considered to understand the
circumstances of this new professional organization of the
engineering in Spain. These aspects are commented in the
following.
A. Frames of reference in Spain
A Dictatorship existed in Spain in this historical interval.
The freedoms of all kinds were restricted in the above
mentioned circumstances, and in Spain it could be illegal to
carry out associative activities. Nevertheless, the professional
associations did not have special difficulties. Other problem
was related to the professionals' lack of the engineering and to
the age of those who were exercising the professions related to
the electrical and electronic engineering in Spain.
The industries and services with major aptitude to facilitate
the interest for the IEEE membership were principally those in
which there were Electrical/Electronics and
Telecommunication engineers involved. Companies as
Standard Electric-ITT, “Telettra España” and “Telefónica”
were the entities with more scientific and technical knowledge
in the Electrical/Electronics-Telecommunication fields. These
companies were leading in Spain in that epoch. Research
centers and universities that were devoting themselves to the
electrical engineering and telecommunication only there were
in Madrid and Barcelona. From the point of view of the
research, the most important centers related to the electrical
engineering and telecommunication were the CSIC (“Consejo
Superior de Investigaciones Científicas”),”Standard Electric-
ITT " and “Telettra España”. Other entities in different places
of Spain had a low influence in the Scientific-technical system
of Spain.
B. Data, facts and activities of the volunteers in this period
The Professor Rogelio Segovia of the ETSIT ("Escuela
Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Telecomunicación") of
Madrid was the first leader of the future section IEEE Spain
(1963). Prof. R. Segovia keeps in contact with the Director of
Region 8 of the IEEE in 1963 and 1964 to develop the new
Spanish section. Due to the leadership of Prof. R. Segovia was
created the first IEEE Student Branch of Spain in the “Escuela
Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Telecomunicación”(ETSIT)
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of Madrid in 1964 and the first Adviser was the Prof. Antonio
Millán (Full Prof. of Radar systems in the ETSIT) of the
AESS society. In that epoch, new activities were supported by
the Student Branch of Madrid with about 40 people of ETSIT
.A Journal was edited and published by the Student branch
from 1966 to 1968 and distributed in Madrid and Barcelona.
The contents were only related with technical topics. The
activities of this Student branch was recognized with a
”Vincent Bendix” award in 1966 ($500), and it was the first
time in Spain. The cover image of a publication is presented
here in Fig. 1. This Journal had as title: “bit”.
Figure 1. Image which shows the cover of the Journal “bit” in 1967.
This Prelude to constitute the IEEE Spain Section was
closed in 1967 when it was constituted the first interim board
of the IEEE Spain section. All officers (Chair, Secretary and
Treasurer) were elected by the board itself. There was only one
candidate for each position but petition candidates were
allowed. The first Chair was the Prof. Rogelio Segovia (in
memoriam) of ETSIT of Madrid.
III. THE SEVENTIES (1968-1977)
This interval can be considered to be that of the "Early
Beginnings". From the political point of view two situations
happen in Spain: the dictatorship and the arrival of the
democracy in 1976. This situation is reflected in all the aspects
of the social life of Spain. On the other hand, there appear new
generations better arranged to the professional institutions.
Therefore, in this interval is possible to remember some frames
of reference, and facts and activities of the first steps of the
IEEE Spain Section.
A. Frames of reference in Spain
The first aspect to consider in this historical interval was
the existence of the last years of the dictatorship and the new
arrival of the Democracy. Electrical/electronic industry and
Telecommunication services began to take-off. New Laws
(1971) changed the Education and the universities life in a
positive way. Before 1975 new universities with technological
curricula were created. The Democracy (newly) arrives in 1976
and more investments arrive from abroad. So, new
professionals of the engineering and mathematicians and
physicist were necessary in that context, and new industries,
services were born. Academia with high standings was the core
of the future development of the Section, because there were
more professionals: engineers, physicists, mathematicians and
people who might be considered to be the future members of
the IEEE.
B. Data, facts and activities of the section
The IEEE Spain section was recognized on April 16, 1968
and your governance was achieved by the first Chair of the
Section Prof. R. Segovia, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The first
bylaws adequate to political situation were approved by
Ministry of Internal Affairs of Spain in 1970.Prof.R.Segovia
passed away in September 1971 and the new Chair was elected
by the board in 1972.The new Chair of the IEEE Spain was the
Prof. Andrés Lara Sanz (expert in Acoustics) from the CSIC of
Madrid. This period was the maintenance of the membership
(very low in number and activities) until 1977.In this interval, a
second new technical school of Telecommunications in Spain
was created in Barcelona (ETSETB) in 1971. In 1972 the
students of ETSIT-Barcelona participate in the Student Branch
of Madrid by difficulties to organize the student branch in
Barcelona during the dictatorship. The membership of IEEE in
Spain was principally people of Academia (Electronics,
Telecommunications, and Industrial engineering) and a low
membership in the Services.
IV. THE EIGHTIES (1978-1989)
This interval may be considered as the “First Development”
of the Section. In this historical period of Spain we can
consider two parts: the “transition” interval (1978-1982) and
the epoch of the incorporation of Spain in the place that
corresponds to her in the world. Both periods were positive for
the country and brought positive consequences for the social
and technological developments. As consequence, the number
of members of the Section increased considerably, so much in
students as in members not students. Again it is necessary to
consider some frames of reference, and facts and activities of
the IEEE Spain Section.
A. Frames of reference in Spain
From 1977 after the "Acuerdos de la Moncloa"
(Agreements among all political parties), Spain experiences a
strong socio-economic and technological development. These
aspects are the base to carry out projects of strong national
interest as the celebration of the World Championship of
Football and to put forward one´s candidature of Barcelona and
Seville for events of world repercussion (Olympic games and
Expo 92). From the point of view of technological
development this implied new human resources with a good
technical preparation.
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In addition, Spain is recognized to be a member of the EU
(European Union) and NATO, which implies also transfers
scientists - technical knowledge due to the participation in
technical committees. This implies a major technical
preparation that the Spanish engineers start possessing.
Telefónica is more international and increases your human
resources of engineering and scientists related to the ICT.
The need of more graduates of engineering does that to be
created new Schools of Industrial Engineering and
Technologies of the Information in Spain. On the other hand,
the activity of research increases in an important way in ICT
(Information and Communication Technologies) and increases
the participation in programs of research ,so much Spanish as
inside the programs of the European Union. The financial
resources are increased of considerable form for the research in
ICT.
B. Data, facts and activities of the section
In 1977 elections were celebrated in the Section. A Chair
from the industry was chosen by the first in the history of the
Section. From 1977 until 1981, it will be Chair the Dr. J.
Enríquez of Salamanca from Standard Electric-ITT.
Dr.Enriquez had a board with five members in your team of
volunteers. The following Chair was the Prof. Antonio Luque
(Full Prof. of Electronics and expert in Photovoltaic energy) of
the ETSIT in Madrid. The interval of your responsibility was
from 1981 to 1983 with the more important number of officers
in the history of the section. It was the first time that the
officers of the section taking part in the works of the
management committee of the IEEE Region 8 and some sub
committees. Open elections were celebrated in the Section in
1983 and was elected the Prof. Anibal R.Figueiras. The interval
of the Prof. Figueiras was from 1983 to 1993.Among the
principal activities of this epoch we can remember: the
preparation of the MELECON85 celebrated in Madrid in 1985,
the celebration of the centenary of the IEEE in 1984 in which
diverse medals were delivered to members distinguished from
the Section in that epoch.
As collective activities were created four chapters by the
first time: Acoustics and Signal Processing, Antennas and
Propagation, Computers and Electron Devices. The second
students' branch of Spain was created in Barcelona in 1980.
When it was ended the year 1989 the section had near 500
members of diverse categories (Fellows, Senior, Member,
Associate and Student), but with a great number of students
and five Student branches were created in the last year (1989)
of this interval.
V. THE NINET IES (1990-1999)
This decade can be considered to be that of the
“consolidation” of the Spanish section. Here also can be
commented which have been the most important factors for the
section bearing in mind that Spain was/is an open society. In
what continues the most important aspects are commented
under our point of view.
A. Frames of reference in Spain
In this decade strong foreign investments are placed in new
technologies. The Olympic Games and the Expo are celebrated
in 1992 and it brings the last advances in ICTs. The coming of
age of the Internet and digital publications facilitates the
increase of the IEEE membership in Spain. There is a strong
participation in European Projects ICT and they increase the
resources for electronic technologies, ICT and electrical
engineering. There were an increasing of the scientist,
engineers and technicians in topics related with the IEEE
society, and it was due to 29 technical colleges and universities
of Spain related with all topics covered by the IEEE.
B. Data, facts and activities of the section
In this interval, the Chairs of the section were Full Profs. of
the Technical Universities of Madrid and Barcelona. The Prof.
Anibal R. Figueiras (UPM) (former Prof. of the Technical
University of Madrid) was followed by the Prof. Antonio Elias
Fustè from the UPC (Technical University of Catalonia) in the
interval from 1993 to 1996.From 1996 to 2002 was elected the
first Chairwoman of the IEEE Spain section, Prof. Magdalena
Salazar Palma (former Prof. of the UPM).
The section was very much active in this decade with these
Chairs. The socio-economic situation of Spain facilitates
activities generated by new Chapters. In fact, the section had
13 chapters in 1999. The most important chapters were:
SP/COM with 1076 members, Computers with 863 members,
AP/MTT with 303 and the total membership arrived to 3124
(including students). A new journal of the Student ´branch was
edited and published: BURAN in 1993.The publication arrived
to 2006 with papers in Spanish, English and Portuguese
languages.
Figure 2. Image which shows the cover of the Journal “BURAN” in 1993
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Figure 3. Image which shows the cover of the Journal “BURAN” in 2006
VI. EARLY 21TH CENTURY (2000-2008)
The section in this early 21th century has been one of the
better in Region 8 from the point of view of activities. So, So,
we can consider, in short, the most important aspects to
comment related with the historical frames of reference and
other questions.
A. Frames of reference for the future
The circumstances socio-economics of Spain were positive.
Spain was/is a member of the “Eurozone” and it was a
advantage from the financial point of view. This characteristic
permitted new industries related with ICT and with foreigner’s
investments. In this interval, there was an increasing in
research collaborative transnational. From the point of view of
the research impact there was an increasing in papers published
with high impact index (JCR index).
However, new problems appeared on the horizon. For
example, decreasing of engineering students, financial
difficulties, Crisis related with new organization of the
University and the curricula (Bolonia Process) and so on.
Today (2009) theses problems are more acute.
B. Data, facts and activities of the section
The Chairs of the section in this interval were the Profs.
Magdalena Salazar Palma from the “Carlos III” University of
Madrid (1996-2002) and Jose A. Delgado-Penín(2002-2007)
from the UPC (Technical University of Catalonia).The section
had 20 chapters in 2007 and were created GOLD and WIE
affinity groups.
New bylaws adequate to Democratic situation were
approved by Ministry of Internal Affairs in 2007, and these
bylaws fix the new institutional location of the Section in
Madrid. The Membership in 2008 was of 3700 people in all
categories with retention of the membership near to 85%.
Some activities promoted during this interval were: dozens
of Conferences related with all fields of IEEE, MELECON 06,
meetings of Region 8, IEEE headquarters meetings in Madrid
and Barcelona, etc.
VII. CONCLUSION
Of the historical presentation of last forty years of the IEEE
Spain Section some conclusions can be obtained as those who
continue:
• Leadership of the section was achieved by Academic
people last years.
• Student branches in Spain were/are very important for
the section and during these forty years were the fuel
for the activities of the section.
• New generations of volunteers were very active in the
international committees and to promote Conferences
and meetings in Spain.
• In short, the development of the IEEE Spain section
was/is parallel to development of Spain as country with
a high social, economical and technical level today.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Special thanks to Prof. Manuel Sierra Pérez (IEEE Spain
Section Chair from 2007 to 2009) as well to Melchor Fuentes
and Gerardo A. Medina-Acosta for their assistance to prepare
the paper.
REFERENCES
[1] J. L. Adanero, J. M. Huidobro, V. Miralles, V. Ortega, C. Rico, and José
M. Romeo, “Crónicas y testimonios de las telecomunicaciones
españolas,” Madrid, Ed. Colegio Oficial de Ingenieros de
Telecomunicación de España, pp. 1-837, 2006. ISBN: 84-934124-8-1.
José A. Delgado-Penín (LF Senior member 2007) was born in Lugo
(Galice), Spain.
He received his M.Eng. in Telecommunications (1968) and Ph.D in
Telecommunications Engineering(1973),all from the Technical
University of Madrid (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, UPM), Spain.
Since 1984, he is Full Prof. of the Technical University of Catalonia
(UPC), Barcelona, Spain. He was Chair of the IEEE Spain Section, and
he served as member of technical program committees of several
international conferences. He received a Third Millenium Medal from
the IEEE in 2000 and several honours from Spain institutions.
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