Who Is Funding the Science That's Too Early for Venture Capital?
April 22, 2026
Drexel University
#97 in Universities
97Institution Overview
Overall
Ranking
97
153
Rank in
Research Capabilities
65
Rank in
Entrepreneurial Readiness
112
Rank in
Market Translation
Philadelphia, PA
Drexel University ranks 97th among universities in the Cure Innovation Index, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its profile leans toward translation, with Entrepreneurial Readiness as its standout domain, placing in the upper tier. Market Translation performance falls near the middle of the field, while Research Capabilities are below average. Drexel's entrepreneurial infrastructure includes an incubator and accelerator, an entrepreneur-in-residence program, biomedical entrepreneurship training, and an MD/MBA dual degree. Faculty also serve as principal investigators on clinical trials. Its overall standing reflects a profile oriented toward translation and commercialization rather than basic research output.
Ranking Metrics
Research Capabilities
Drexel University 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, Drexel University fared best in Funding Support.
Learn MoreEntrepreneurial Readiness
Drexel University 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, Drexel University fared best in Ecosystem Support.
Learn MoreMarket Translation
Drexel University ranked below 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, Drexel University 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.
