Academic entrepreneurship—the commercialization of university research by faculty—has emerged as a critical driver of innovation worldwide. However, in countries with underdeveloped entrepreneurial ecosystems like China, academic entrepreneurs (AEs) often face complex role conflicts that challenge both their professional identities and institutional relationships. A recent study by Yin, Jiang, and Tong (2025) explores these challenges and the coping strategies adopted by AEs within a Chinese research university.