The first International Student Seminar, inspired by Prof.es O. and I. Vendik (St. Petersburg Electrotechnical University) and supported by Prof. E. Kollberg (Chalmers University of Technology), was held in 1994. Later on hosted in St. Petersburg and other renowned places in Sweden, France, Germany, UK, and Finland, the seminar has developed to a truly European platform for the scientific exchange, inspiration, and social networking of students and young researchers in the area of "microwave and optical applications of novel phenomena and technologies". In 2010, the 17th International Student Seminar was organised by the Institute for Micro- and Nanotechnologies IMN MacroNano® at Ilmenau University of Technology, Germany. Topics including optical plasmons, metamaterials, superconductivity, as well as novel device, system, and technology aspects for highfrequency applications were covered by invited tutorials and regular contributions, such as those compiled in the present volume.