Who Is Funding the Science That's Too Early for Venture Capital?
April 22, 2026
University of California, San Diego
#7 in Universities
07Institution Overview
Overall
Ranking
7
17
Rank in
Research Capabilities
24
Rank in
Entrepreneurial Readiness
4
Rank in
Market Translation
San Diego, CA
The University of California, San Diego ranks seventh among 243 universities in the Cure Innovation Index. Located in San Diego, California, it places fourth in market translation, its highest-ranking domain, and 17th in research capabilities and 24th in entrepreneurial readiness. The university supports an MSTP program, a biomedical entrepreneurship training track, an MD/MBA dual degree option, an incubator and accelerator, and an entrepreneur-in-residence program. A Clinical and Translational Science Award supports faculty-led clinical research. Across the ranking, few universities match its combination of research depth and translation-oriented infrastructure.
Ranking Metrics
Research Capabilities
University of California, San Diego ranked above 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, University of California, San Diego fared best in Funding Support.
Learn MoreEntrepreneurial Readiness
University of California, San Diego 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, University of California, San Diego fared best in Ecosystem Support.
Learn MoreMarket Translation
University of California, San Diego 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, University of California, San Diego 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.
