Who Is Funding the Science That's Too Early for Venture Capital?
April 22, 2026
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
#88 in Universities
88Institution Overview
Overall
Ranking
88
135
Rank in
Research Capabilities
71
Rank in
Entrepreneurial Readiness
95
Rank in
Market Translation
Urbana, IL
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, located in Urbana, Illinois, ranks 88th among universities in the Cure Innovation Index. The university's clearest strengths lie in entrepreneurial readiness, where it places 71st, backed by an incubator and accelerator, an entrepreneur-in-residence program, and biomedical entrepreneurship training. Market translation performance falls in the upper half, while research capabilities rank in the middle range. An MD/MBA dual degree option and faculty-led clinical trials contribute to a profile oriented toward the commercial and clinical application of biomedical research.
Ranking Metrics
Research Capabilities
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 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 Illinois at Urbana-Champaign fared best in Funding Support.
Learn MoreEntrepreneurial Readiness
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 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 Illinois at Urbana-Champaign fared best in Ecosystem Support.
Learn MoreMarket Translation
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 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 Illinois at Urbana-Champaign fared best in Experienced TTO.
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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.
