Who Is Funding the Science That's Too Early for Venture Capital?
April 22, 2026
University of Pennsylvania
#3 in Universities
03Institution Overview
Overall
Ranking
3
1
Rank in
Research Capabilities
2
Rank in
Entrepreneurial Readiness
8
Rank in
Market Translation
Philadelphia, PA
University of Pennsylvania ranks third among universities in the Cure Innovation Index, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Penn places first in Research Capabilities and second in Entrepreneurial Readiness, with Market Translation ranking eighth. Its profile is balanced between discovery and translation, reflecting consistent strength across all three domains. The university supports an MSTP program, an incubator and accelerator, an entrepreneur-in-residence program, MD/MBA dual-degree training, and holds a Clinical and Translational Science Award. Few universities in the Cure Innovation Index match Penn's combination of research output and commercialization infrastructure.
Ranking Metrics
Research Capabilities
University of Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania fared best in Funding Support.
Learn MoreEntrepreneurial Readiness
University of Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania fared best in Ecosystem Support.
Learn MoreMarket Translation
University of Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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.
