Who Is Funding the Science That's Too Early for Venture Capital?
April 22, 2026
North Carolina State University
#78 in Universities
78Institution Overview
Overall
Ranking
78
102
Rank in
Research Capabilities
38
Rank in
Entrepreneurial Readiness
94
Rank in
Market Translation
Raleigh, NC
North Carolina State University ranks 78th among universities in the Cure Innovation Index and is located in Raleigh, North Carolina. Its clearest strength is Entrepreneurial Readiness, where it ranks 38th, placing it among the upper tier of universities nationally. Research Capabilities and Market Translation fall in the middle of the ranking, with the institution's overall profile leaning toward translation. NC State maintains an incubator and accelerator, biomedical entrepreneurship training, an MD/MBA dual degree, and an MSTP program, reflecting an applied orientation that complements its identity as a land-grant university.
Ranking Metrics
Research Capabilities
North Carolina 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, North Carolina State University fared best in Facilities/Equipment.
Learn MoreEntrepreneurial Readiness
North Carolina 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, North Carolina State University fared best in Ecosystem Support.
Learn MoreMarket Translation
North Carolina State University 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, North Carolina State University 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.
