Who Is Funding the Science That's Too Early for Venture Capital?
April 22, 2026
Kansas State University
#186 in Universities
186Institution Overview
Overall
Ranking
186
158
Rank in
Research Capabilities
207
Rank in
Entrepreneurial Readiness
163
Rank in
Market Translation
Manhattan, KS
Kansas State University ranks 186th among universities in the Cure Innovation Index, based in Manhattan, Kansas. Its research capabilities and market translation profile are closely matched, with translation activity representing a relative strength in its overall standing. Entrepreneurial readiness is the least developed of the three domains, though the university operates an incubator and accelerator. A land-grant institution with a long history in the agricultural sciences, Kansas State brings a practical orientation to biomedical research that reflects its institutional mission.
Ranking Metrics
Research Capabilities
Kansas 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, Kansas State University fared best in Facilities/Equipment.
Learn MoreEntrepreneurial Readiness
Kansas 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, Kansas State University fared best in Ecosystem Support.
Learn MoreMarket Translation
Kansas 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, Kansas State 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.
