Background <p>Healthcare organisations are facing major challenges, including workforce shortages, rising costs, and an aging population. Research engagement in hospitals plays a central role in addressing these challenges through quality improvement, innovation, and research aimed at more effective healthcare delivery. This study aims to identify facilitators and barriers for research engagement in a large non-academic Dutch teaching hospital.</p> Methods <p>A qualitative design was employed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in April–May 2025 with 16 healthcare professionals from 10 hospital departments, all actively involved in research. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed in Atlas.ti. A combined deductive–inductive approach guided by the Capability-Opportunity-Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) model was applied, with coding in three stages (open, axial, selective).</p> Results <p>Findings were framed using the COM-B model. <i>Capability</i>: Engagement in research depends on having essential knowledge and skills, including practical skills related to research procedures, knowledge on how to use new digital tools and performing data analysis. Rapid digitalisation introduced new knowledge gaps related to Artificial Intelligence and data infrastructure, which act as barriers for research participation. <i>Opportunity</i>: Research opportunities depend on environmental factors such as access to practical assistance of research staff, protected research time, funding, and support services. A modern data infrastructure, along with appropriate systems and programmes, including Artificial Intelligence, also facilitates research engagement. A motivating research culture with recognition and interdisciplinary collaboration facilitates engagement in research. Barriers may include high clinical workload, insufficient funds, outdated software, and an unsupportive or negative environment. <i>Motivation</i>: Participants were driven by intrinsic motivation, valuing collaboration and the improvement of patient care and education. Demotivators may include repeated grant rejections, lack of perceived progress, and inadequate departmental support.</p> Conclusions <p>Fostering a hospital-wide research culture where research is valued, promoted, and blended with learning is recommended. Practical solutions include providing the assistance of research staff, allocating protected research time, support with finding and obtaining funding and technical support, and encouraging collaboration across departments and disciplines. Limited understanding of digital infrastructures and Artificial Intelligence was identified as a novel barrier for conducting research. Addressing this gap is critical for sustainable innovation and patient outcome improvement.</p>