Who Is Funding the Science That's Too Early for Venture Capital?
April 22, 2026
Mayo Clinic
#2 in Institutes and Centers
02Institution Overview
Overall
Ranking
2
5
Rank in
Research Capabilities
1
Rank in
Entrepreneurial Readiness
5
Rank in
Market Translation
Rochester, MN
Mayo Clinic ranks second among the 60 biomedical institutes in the Cure Innovation Index, based in Rochester, Minnesota. The institute places fifth in both Research Capabilities and Market Translation, and second in Entrepreneurial Readiness, a profile that leans toward the translation and commercialization end of the innovation spectrum. Mayo supports that orientation through a Clinical and Translational Science Award program, an incubator and accelerator, an entrepreneur-in-residence program, and faculty-led clinical trials. An MSTP program and biomedical entrepreneurship training complete an infrastructure shaped by Mayo's clinical mission.
Ranking Metrics
Research Capabilities
Mayo Clinic ranked above average for Research Capabilities, a measure of the foundational infrastructure and resources that enable an institution to conduct high-quality, innovative science. Out of the factors in this category, Mayo Clinic fared best in Funding Support.
Learn MoreEntrepreneurial Readiness
Mayo Clinic ranked above average for Entrepreneurial Readiness, a measure of whether the institution has built a supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurship and whether faculty are engaged in and incentivized toward commercial activity. Out of the factors in this category, Mayo Clinic fared best in Ecosystem Support.
Learn MoreMarket Translation
Mayo Clinic ranked above average for Market Translation, a measure of how effectively a research institution moves scientific discovery out of the lab and into real-world clinical and commercial applications. Out of the factors in this category, Mayo Clinic fared best in Health Impact.
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Cure Innovation Index Methodology
From a pool of more than 6,000 institutions, the top 303 were ranked using two dozen indicators — from scientific foundation and lab infrastructure to patents, products, and partnerships — drawn from more than a dozen federal and commercial databases, an original audit of all institutions, and surveys of more than 3,300+ scientists, industry leaders, and biomedical experts.
Insights From the Cure Innovation Index
Explore by Category
Innovation isn't a single moment — it's an entire ecosystem. The Index evaluates institutions across two dozen indicators, grouped in three core domains that reveal the full picture of what it takes to turn groundbreaking science into real-world impact.
