Who Is Funding the Science That's Too Early for Venture Capital?
April 22, 2026
Wichita State University
#236 in Universities
236Institution Overview
Overall
Ranking
236
237
Rank in
Research Capabilities
209
Rank in
Entrepreneurial Readiness
235
Rank in
Market Translation
Wichita, KS
Wichita State University ranks 236th among universities in the Cure Innovation Index, based in Wichita, Kansas. Research capabilities and market translation perform at similar levels, both within the lower tier of ranked universities, while entrepreneurial readiness emerges as a relative strength within the institution's profile. The university operates an incubator and accelerator program. Its domain balance leans toward translation, and its standing in the Cure Innovation Index reflects an institution at an early stage of biomedical research development.
Ranking Metrics
Research Capabilities
Wichita State University 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, Wichita State University fared best in Funding Support.
Learn MoreEntrepreneurial Readiness
Wichita State University 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, Wichita State University fared best in Ecosystem Support.
Learn MoreMarket Translation
Wichita State University 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, Wichita State University fared best in Industry Reputation.
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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.
