Who Is Funding the Science That's Too Early for Venture Capital?
April 22, 2026
University of Hawaii at Manoa
#178 in Universities
178Institution Overview
Overall
Ranking
178
95
Rank in
Research Capabilities
203
Rank in
Entrepreneurial Readiness
218
Rank in
Market Translation
Honolulu, HI
The University of Hawaii at Manoa ranks 178th among universities in the Cure Innovation Index, based in Honolulu, Hawaii. Its Research Capabilities place it 95th, positioning it in the upper half of universities in that domain, with a profile that leans toward discovery. Market Translation and Entrepreneurial Readiness rank well below the field's midpoint. The university operates an incubator and accelerator program and supports faculty-led clinical trials. As Hawaii's flagship university in the Pacific, it is among the few U.S. biomedical research institutions located outside the continental United States.
Ranking Metrics
Research Capabilities
University of Hawaii at Manoa 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, University of Hawaii at Manoa fared best in Facilities/Equipment.
Learn MoreEntrepreneurial Readiness
University of Hawaii at Manoa 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, University of Hawaii at Manoa fared best in Faculty Engagement.
Learn MoreMarket Translation
University of Hawaii at Manoa 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, University of Hawaii at Manoa fared best in Industry Connections.
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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.
