<p>This study explores barriers to university-industry collaboration (UIC) in the Pomeranian region of Poland and offers insights into an underexamined context within emerging Central European economies. We address a gap in the literature, which focuses on regional-level challenges often overshadowed by national or Western European perspectives. We use an abductive, mixed-methods approach and integrate data from 504 survey respondents and 38 focus group participants across academia and industry. Our study is grounded in a systematic literature review and interpreted through established theoretical frameworks. We identify cultural, institutional, and operational barriers to UIC. Across both datasets, differences in goals emerged as the most critical shared cultural barrier. Institutional barriers appeared in complementary forms: survey respondents emphasized bureaucratic complexity, whereas interviewees highlighted limited knowledge of UIC mechanisms and an ineffective academic incentive system. Methodologically, this study is among the first to apply an abductive design to a mixed-methods study, integrating survey data with network analysis of interview data. Based on the findings, we propose an ecosystem-level response involving local government, universities, and firms. Recommendations include strengthening boundary-spanning roles, establishing a shared online platform, and organizing joint workshops and networking events. Universities should adopt entrepreneurial practices and invest in staff capacity-building, while firms should engage proactively and commit to long-term, regionally sustained collaboration. Although the findings are context-specific and may not be generalizable to other regions, they offer valuable implications for similar emerging markets. Limitations include reliance on self-reported data and a limited qualitative scope.</p>