Who Is Funding the Science That's Too Early for Venture Capital?
April 22, 2026
University of Iowa
#30 in Universities
30Institution Overview
Overall
Ranking
30
36
Rank in
Research Capabilities
11
Rank in
Entrepreneurial Readiness
60
Rank in
Market Translation
Iowa City, IA
The University of Iowa ranks 30th among universities in the Cure Innovation Index, based in Iowa City, Iowa. Its research profile leans toward discovery, placing 36th in Research Capabilities and 60th in Market Translation. The university's notable strength is in Entrepreneurial Readiness, where it ranks 11th, a standing reflected in its incubator, entrepreneur-in-residence program, and biomedical entrepreneurship training. It also holds a Clinical and Translational Science Award and offers both an MSTP program and an MD/MBA dual degree.
Ranking Metrics
Research Capabilities
University of Iowa 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 Iowa fared best in Funding Support.
Learn MoreEntrepreneurial Readiness
University of Iowa 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 Iowa fared best in Ecosystem Support.
Learn MoreMarket Translation
University of Iowa 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 Iowa 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.
