UC joins as partner in prestigious Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network

This collaboration, supported by the Kern Family Foundation, empowers engineering programs to inspire curiosity, connections, and value creation in their graduates, preparing them to address real-world challenges with innovative solutions.

UC will collaborate with more than 65 leading engineering institutions to integrate entrepreneurial skills into its curriculum, helping students build careers that contribute to economic and societal progress. Through shared resources, faculty training, and development opportunities, the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network, or KEEN, provides support for faculty and students.

“Since the launch of our strategic direction, ‘Next Lives Here,’ in 2018, the University of Cincinnati has set a course to be leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact," said UC President Neville Pinto. "Becoming a member with an incredible partner like KEEN accelerates this vision and, most importantly, equips our engineering students to take their place as society’s future leaders." 

Membership in KEEN enhances UC’s portfolio of opportunities for students and faculty to focus on leadership, innovative thinking and entrepreneurship. With more than 7,000 engineering student engagements at UC's Lindner Center for Entrepreneurship events last year, CEAS students represent more than 60% of all participation in campus-wide extracurricular entrepreneurial activities, such as the Innovation Challenge pitch competition. 

UC’s partnership with KEEN is spearheaded by the college's Dean John Weidner and Jason Heikenfeld, an engineering professor. 

“Just this year a study found that UC was ranked first nationwide when it comes to the likelihood of an alum producing a startup  with at least a billion-dollar valuation," Heikenfeld said. "Entrepreneurial mindset is clearly a part of our UC Bearcat DNA, and just imagine what is possible now that we are intentionally leveraging our strengths like never before through the power of KEEN.”

Alongside UC’s nationally recognized, Top 5-ranked cooperative education (co-op) program, CEAS’ involvement in KEEN further strengthens the hands-on skills and innovative mindset essential for the next generation of engineering leaders. As demand rises for skilled engineers and computer scientists, this partnership amplifies UC’s commitment to experiential learning and equips students with the creativity and adaptability needed to excel in dynamic fields.

Featured image at top: UC's Baldwin Hall. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/UC