Who Is Funding the Science That's Too Early for Venture Capital?
April 22, 2026
University of Notre Dame
#130 in Universities
130Institution Overview
Overall
Ranking
130
96
Rank in
Research Capabilities
125
Rank in
Entrepreneurial Readiness
164
Rank in
Market Translation
Notre Dame, IN
The University of Notre Dame ranks 130th among universities in the Cure Innovation Index and is situated in Notre Dame, Indiana. Research Capabilities is its strongest domain, placing 96th overall, while Market Translation ranks 164th and remains a developing area. Entrepreneurial Readiness sits near the field's midpoint at 125th. The university operates an incubator and accelerator, provides biomedical entrepreneurship training, and supports faculty-led clinical trials, presenting a profile where research output outpaces its commercial translation activity.
Ranking Metrics
Research Capabilities
University of Notre Dame 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 Notre Dame fared best in Funding Support.
Learn MoreEntrepreneurial Readiness
University of Notre Dame 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 Notre Dame fared best in Faculty Engagement.
Learn MoreMarket Translation
University of Notre Dame 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 Notre Dame 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.
