Who Is Funding the Science That's Too Early for Venture Capital?
April 22, 2026
East Tennessee State University
#180 in Universities
180Institution Overview
Overall
Ranking
180
209
Rank in
Research Capabilities
112
Rank in
Entrepreneurial Readiness
236
Rank in
Market Translation
Johnson City, TN
East Tennessee State University ranks 180th among universities in the Cure Innovation Index, based in Johnson City, Tennessee. Its research capabilities and market translation performance are in the lower tier of the ranked field, while its overall profile shows a balance between discovery and translation activity. Entrepreneurial readiness is the strongest of its three domain rankings, falling above the midpoint of the university cohort, supported by an MD/MBA dual degree program and an incubator and accelerator.
Ranking Metrics
Research Capabilities
East Tennessee State 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, East Tennessee State University fared best in Funding Support.
Learn MoreEntrepreneurial Readiness
East Tennessee State University 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, East Tennessee State University fared best in Ecosystem Support.
Learn MoreMarket Translation
East Tennessee State 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, East Tennessee State University fared best in Industry Reputation.
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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.
