The Picture Coding Symposium (PCS) PCS2025 Aachen is the oldest conference in the field of image and video coding. In 2025, this long-standing event was hosted at RWTH Aachen University for the first time.
The PCS has been held every 1.5 years since 1969, rotating among Europe, North America, and Asia. From December 8 to 11, leading experts and early-career researchers from around the world gathered at the SuperC on the RWTH Aachen University campus. Under the leadership of Professor Mathias Wien and Professor Joern Ostermann, participants presented cutting-edge research and exchanged innovative ideas. “The event,” said Professor Wien, “was a complete success.” In total, 162 participants from 19 countries traveled to Aachen to attend the symposium.
A special highlight of the symposium was the recognition of Professor Jens-Rainer Ohm, longtime former head of the Institut für Nachrichtentechnik, RWTH Aachen University and head of the international working group responsible for standardizing the AVC, HEVC, and VVC video coding standards. These standards are now used worldwide in televisions and mobile devices. Professor Ohm was honored for his outstanding service and lasting contributions to the standardization and advancement of video coding technologies.
PCS 2025 featured a rich program of lectures, workshops, and panel discussions, covering topics such as novel algorithms for video, image, and immersive scene coding, machine learning approaches to coding, and advanced streaming techniques. The symposium’s interactive format fostered dynamic exchange and collaboration among international researchers from both academia and industry.
The organizers expressed strong appreciation for the enthusiastic feedback from participants and underscored the vital role of conferences like PCS in advancing scientific research and strengthening international collaboration.