<p>This study systematically reviews 390 Chinese-language articles published between 2017 and 2024 to examine how Chinese universities approach academic engagement and academic entrepreneurship—the two core components of the university’s “third mission.” Although Western scholarship has extensively mapped university–industry collaboration, indigenous Chinese developments remain largely “lost in translation” due to linguistic barriers and limited cross-citation. Our review identifies key indigenous concepts—such as the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, coordinated innovation, and mixed intellectual property rights (IPR) ownership—that define China’s unique, centrally driven approach to technology transfer. We find that Chinese literature prioritizes institutional and ecosystem-level dynamics, contrasting with Western emphasis on individual-level motivations and informal networks. By synthesizing these findings into a conceptual model, this study bridges the gap between Chinese and Western research communities. It offers a more inclusive, globally balanced perspective for understanding academic entrepreneurship, highlighting how diverse institutional settings shape the translation of knowledge into economic value and providing a foundation for future comparative research.</p>