The Fourth European Microwave Conference, held in 1974 in Montreux, Switzerland, was the first one organized professionally with a commercial exhibition, Microwave'74. Joining two basically different events required a careful preparation, with many discussions: at that time people feared that the commercial aspects of the Exhibition would adversely affect the high standards of the Conference. But the long-term agreement between the two partners worked flawlessly and the event was highly successful. This started a long series of joint events, organized since then on a yearly basis.