Who Is Funding the Science That's Too Early for Venture Capital?
April 22, 2026
Colorado School of Mines
#189 in Universities
189Institution Overview
Overall
Ranking
189
241
Rank in
Research Capabilities
223
Rank in
Entrepreneurial Readiness
83
Rank in
Market Translation
Golden, CO
Colorado School of Mines ranks 189th among universities in the Cure Innovation Index, based in Golden, Colorado. An engineering and applied sciences institution by focus, it carries a commercial orientation that distinguishes it from most other universities in the index. Market Translation is its standout domain, placing it well above average in that area, while Research Capabilities and Entrepreneurial Readiness reflect a more limited biomedical footprint. The university operates an on-campus incubator, in keeping with its applied, industry-facing institutional identity.
Ranking Metrics
Research Capabilities
Colorado School of Mines 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, Colorado School of Mines fared best in Funding Support.
Learn MoreEntrepreneurial Readiness
Colorado School of Mines 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, Colorado School of Mines fared best in Ecosystem Support.
Learn MoreMarket Translation
Colorado School of Mines 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, Colorado School of Mines fared best in TTO Efficiency.
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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.
