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 | August 10-11, 2021
In person & virtual options are available.
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. You are invited!
WHEN | Tuesday, August 10, 12:00-5:00pm CST & Wednesday, August 11, 9:00am-1:00pm CST
WHERE | Big Ten Conference Center, 5440 Park Place, Rosemont, Illinois
To learn more about the venue, please visit go.illinois.edu/big10
REGISTER | Register here
You can indicate if you will be in-person or attending virtually on the registration form.
DEADLINE TO REGISTER | July 16
HOSTED BY | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign & University of Michigan
COVID-19 INFORMATION | As per State of Illinois current guidelines for Covid-19, those who are fully vaccinated are not required to wear face coverings or maintain social distance. Those who are not fully vaccinated must wear a face covering and maintain social distance if attending in person.
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, 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
- Learn about Midwest opportunities for I-Corps
- Find how other universities are breaking down the 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
We look forward to sharing and exploring new ideas and tackling the common problems we all face.
Conference Lodging
- 9700 Balmoral Ave., Rosemont, IL
- Discounted Rate: $139/night + Free Parking
- ALOFT Chicago is within walking distance to the Big 10 Conference Center (0.1 miles)
- You must reserve your room by Friday, July 23, 2021 to guarantee room availability at the discounted rate.
- Book your room here for the discounted conference rate.
View the 2019 agenda
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 and others.
Past hosts include: 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).
