Who Is Funding the Science That's Too Early for Venture Capital?
April 22, 2026
San Francisco State University
#243 in Universities
243Institution Overview
Overall
Ranking
243
243
Rank in
Research Capabilities
232
Rank in
Entrepreneurial Readiness
243
Rank in
Market Translation
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco State University ranks 243rd among universities in the Cure Innovation Index, placing it among the lowest-ranked in the category. Located in San Francisco, California, the university shows similar standing across Research Capabilities and Market Translation, with somewhat stronger performance in Entrepreneurial Readiness. As a California State University campus centered on access and graduate education, it participates in biomedical research at a scale shaped by that mission, distinct from the doctoral universities that occupy the top of the index.
Ranking Metrics
Research Capabilities
San Francisco 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, San Francisco State University fared best in Funding Support.
Learn MoreEntrepreneurial Readiness
San Francisco 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, San Francisco State University fared best in Ecosystem Support.
Learn MoreMarket Translation
San Francisco 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, San Francisco 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.
