Forum members bring a broad base of experience in Software Defined Radio, Cognitive Radio and Dynamic Spectrum Access technologies in diverse markets and at all levels of the wireless value chain to address emerging wireless communications requirements.

[1] The organization was created at the request of the US military services (led by the Air Force) as an industry association focused on advancing the development of software radio.

[2][3] The Forum published its first technical report in 1997, outlining the current state of the art in software defined radio.

[9] The Forum also made filings with the United States Federal Communications Commission that helped form their public rule making on software defined radio.

[13] Between 2004 and 2010, the Forum signed memorandums of understanding with multiple international groups to allow collaboration in areas of mutual interest.

[14] In 2007, the Forum initiated the Smart Radio Challenge, a worldwide competition in which student engineering teams design, develop and test technologies that address relevant problems in the advanced wireless market.

[15] In late 2009, the Software Defined Radio Forum was renamed the Wireless Innovation Forum, reflecting the fact that many of the projects undertaken by its members had expanded to include Cognitive Radio, Systems of Systems, Ad Hoc Networks, and Dynamic Spectrum Access Technologies.

The Committee previously defined and published a "Top 10 Most Wanted Wireless Innovations" list, and also manages the Forum's Advocacy Agenda.

The role of the committee had expanded at this point to include acting “as an incubator for exploring potential new markets relevant to the Forum’s mission”.

[34] The purpose of this Commercialization Committee was to “serve as a common industry and government standards body to support the development and advancement of spectrum sharing technologies based on the three-tier architecture proposed for the 3.5 GHz (CBRS Band) rulemaking activities”.