This study aims to bridge the gap in the literature by empirically analyzing how department context influences academic scientists’ intention to engage in knowledge commercialization. Using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) as a framework and a survey of 272 scientists from Chinese universities, this study shows that although entrepreneurial intention is positively influenced by the department’s scientific reputation and the presence of role models, no such effect is found for department entrepreneurial support. In the absence of department context, our findings also suggest that scientists’ motivational factors, such as commercialization attitude and perceived behavioral control, still significantly influence their intention to engage in commercialization activities.