Who Is Funding the Science That's Too Early for Venture Capital?
April 22, 2026
California Institute of Technology
#50 in Universities
50Institution Overview
Overall
Ranking
50
66
Rank in
Research Capabilities
102
Rank in
Entrepreneurial Readiness
9
Rank in
Market Translation
Pasadena, CA
California Institute of Technology ranks 50th among universities in the Cure Innovation Index, based in Pasadena, California. Its profile leans toward market translation, where it ranks ninth, a high standing for an institution better known for physical and engineering sciences than clinical medicine. Research capabilities place it in the upper tier at 66th, while entrepreneurial readiness, at 102nd, falls near the midpoint. The university supports an MSTP program, faculty-led clinical trials, and holds a Clinical and Translational Science Award; an on-campus incubator, accelerator, and entrepreneur-in-residence program extend the translational infrastructure.
Ranking Metrics
Research Capabilities
California Institute of Technology ranked below 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, California Institute of Technology fared best in Cutting Edge Science.
Learn MoreEntrepreneurial Readiness
California Institute of Technology ranked below 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, California Institute of Technology fared best in Faculty Engagement.
Learn MoreMarket Translation
California Institute of Technology 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, California Institute of Technology 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.
