The International Conference on Metallurgical Coatings and Thin Films (ICMCTF) is recognized as the premier international conference in thin film deposition, characterization, and advanced surface engineering. It provides a unique forum for scientists, engineers, and technologists from academia, government laboratories, and industry to present their latest findings, exchange ideas, share insights, establish collaborations, and strengthen long-standing connections within our international community.
The 53rd International Conference on Metallurgical Coatings and Thin Films (ICMCTF 2027) will be held from April 25-30, 2027, at the Town and Country Resort in San Diego, California, USA. Under the overarching theme “Surface Engineering Shaping Future Technologies,” the conference will highlight the essential role of coatings, thin films, and engineered surfaces in enabling emerging technologies and supporting sustainable development. Particular emphasis will be placed on advanced energy systems, sustainable and circular surface solutions, materials performance in extreme environments, emerging thin films for computing technologies, and functional surfaces for healthcare, biotechnology, food, and agriculture.
The 2027 technical program will feature more than 100 high-profile invited speakers across 25+ sessions. It will span the full spectrum of surface engineering, from plasma and vapor deposition processes to protective and high-temperature coatings, functional thin films and surfaces, tribology and mechanics, and surface engineering for biomaterials, devices, and regenerative materials. Further symposia will address advanced characterization, modeling and data science, as well as applied research and industrial applications. A dedicated Sustainable Surface Engineering program will focus on coatings for batteries and hydrogen applications, as well as on coatings and surfaces for renewable energy technologies.
Several Topical Symposia and Special Sessions will complement the core technical program. “Promoting Women in Surface Engineering” will highlight scientific excellence, leadership, and diversity within our community. Memorial Sessions will celebrate the scientific legacies of Jindřich Musil and Steven Muhl, while Honorary Sessions will recognize the outstanding contributions of Christian Mitterer and Jia-Hong Huang. A dedicated session on “Thin Films in Microelectronics” will explore the rapidly growing importance of advanced thin-film materials and processes for future computing and electronic technologies.
One conference highlight will be the plenary lecture by Univ.-Prof. Ulrike Diebold, Vice President of the Austrian Academy of Sciences and Professor for Surface Science at TU Wien. The Exhibit Keynote Lecture will be delivered by Dr.-Ing. Tobias Brögelmann of Ionbond | IHI Group, providing an important industrial perspective on the role of surface engineering in future technologies. Together with additional keynote lectures, the plenary and exhibit keynotes will be among the week’s major scientific highlights.
In addition to the scientific program, ICMCTF 2027 will feature an industrial exhibition showcasing the latest equipment, materials, services, and emerging technologies for the deposition, monitoring, characterization, and application of coatings and thin films. The ICMCTF Academy will offer Short Courses throughout the week. At the same time, daily networking events will provide numerous opportunities to meet colleagues, establish new collaborations, reconnect with long-time friends, and welcome the next generation of surface engineering researchers.
A special convocation ceremony will honor the recipients of the R.F. Bunshah Award and the Bill Sproul Award, together with the outstanding Graduate Student Award winners. The accompanying festive reception remains one of the conference’s most memorable occasions, bringing together established leaders, early-career researchers, students, and industry representatives from across the international surface engineering community.
High-quality scientific and technical contributions presented at ICMCTF 2027 will again be considered, following peer review, for publication in dedicated Special Issues of the leading Q1 journals Surface and Coatings Technology (IF 6.9) and Vacuum (IF 4.3). The Special Issues offer important benefits, including one year of open access, rapid online publication following acceptance, and the selection of outstanding contributions as Editor’s Picks. Authors are strongly encouraged to submit manuscripts based on their conference presentations by June 30, 2027.
The Town and Country Resort, located in sunny San Diego, will once again provide a welcoming and inspiring setting for scientific discussions, networking, and the exchange of new ideas. As we celebrate new research, long-standing friendships, and many shared memories, ICMCTF 2027 will also mark an exciting moment as our conference community prepares to set sail toward new destinations.
We warmly invite you to join us in San Diego and help shape the future of surface engineering and thin film technologies. We look forward to receiving your abstract by October 30, 2026, and to welcoming you to ICMCTF 2027!
Helmut Riedl Sandra E. Rodil
2027 Program Chair 2027 General Chair
