Who Is Funding the Science That's Too Early for Venture Capital?
April 22, 2026
University of Montana, Missoula
#160 in Universities
160Institution Overview
Overall
Ranking
160
116
Rank in
Research Capabilities
159
Rank in
Entrepreneurial Readiness
227
Rank in
Market Translation
Missoula, MT
The University of Montana, Missoula ranks 160th among universities in the Cure Innovation Index. Located in western Montana, the university performs most strongly in Research Capabilities, placing in the upper half of its peers and reflecting a profile oriented toward discovery. Market Translation is a pronounced gap, with the university ranking near the bottom of its category. Entrepreneurial Readiness sits around the midpoint, supported by an on-campus incubator and an entrepreneur-in-residence program. The overall profile is that of a university where research strength outpaces its market-facing activity.
Ranking Metrics
Research Capabilities
University of Montana, Missoula 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 Montana, Missoula fared best in Funding Support.
Learn MoreEntrepreneurial Readiness
University of Montana, Missoula 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 Montana, Missoula fared best in Faculty Engagement.
Learn MoreMarket Translation
University of Montana, Missoula 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 Montana, Missoula fared best in TTO Efficiency.
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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.
