What is MEEN?
The Midwest Engineering Entrepreneurship Network (MEEN) supports the efforts of Midwest technology entrepreneurship institutions through collaboration in educating, supporting, and connecting innovators to the ecosystem spanning the region. The geographic spread, diverse industrial base, and scale of the network facilitates the sharing of resources, connections and best practices, among the institutions involved. MEEN currently includes more than 30 universities which account for approximately $16B in federal research funding.
MEEN was established in 2011 by the University of Illinois Technology Entrepreneur Center and the University of Michigan Center for Entrepreneurship.
Annual Conference
Annually, MEEN holds a conference aimed at sharing best practices and methods for overcoming challenges unique to Midwest engineering entrepreneurship centers. Each year, a different university hosts the MEEN Conference.
Dates | July 15-17, 2024
Host | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Location | Urbana, Illinois
Registration coming soon!
MEEN Conference
Monday-Tuesday, July 15-16
Monday: 12:00-5:00pm
Tuesday: 8:30-12:00pm
Join your Midwest engineering entrepreneurship center peers to share best practices, methods for overcoming challenges, and make connections! The MEEN conference is open to University administration, faculty, and staff working with technology entrepreneurship. Representatives from entrepreneurship centers, technology commercialization offices, and entrepreneurship education are encouraged to attend.
Great Lakes Hub Meeting
Tuesday, July 16
1:00-4:00pm
Learn more about the NSF I-Corps Hub: Great Lakes Region.
Inclusive Innovators Summit
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
9:00am-5:00pm
The Inclusive Innovators Summit will bring together Midwest graduate students, postdocs, and faculty with academic and entrepreneurial leaders to build insights and solutions for inclusive engagement in research commercialization and science entrepreneurship. All are welcome to attend. Learn More about the Inclusive Innovators Summit.
Lodging
Suggested Lodging with the MEEN Conference Rate
Marriott Bonvoy Townplace Suites
603 S. Sixth Street, Champaign, Illinois
Travel Information
There are daily flights to and from Champaign-Urbana via Willard Airport (CMI) and Chicago O’Hare and Dallas/Fort Worth.
Willard Airport
1 Airport Rd., Savoy, Illinois
217-244-8604
Who should attend
This conference is open to University administration, faculty, and staff working with technology entrepreneurship. Among others, representatives from entrepreneurship centers, technology commercialization offices, and entrepreneurship education are encouraged to attend.
There is no fee to attend this event, but participants are responsible for providing their own transportation and accommodations.
Why you should attend
- Find how other universities are breaking down educational silos
- Hear best practices in engineering entrepreneurship from other universities
- Describe a challenge you are having and learn how the MEEN network may help
- Learn about Midwest opportunities for I-Corps
We look forward to sharing and exploring new ideas and tackling the common problems we all face.
2023 Conference Agenda
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Past participants include: Iowa State University, Penn State, Wayne State, Illinois Institute of Technology, Michigan Technological University, Northwestern University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Akron, University of Iowa, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, University of Toledo, and others.
Past hosts include: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (2022), Iowa State University (2019), University of Nebraska (2018), University of Iowa (2017), University of Minnesota (2016), University of Chicago (2016), Purdue University (2015), Northwestern University (2014), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (2013), and University of Michigan (2012).
