The aim of the paper is to profile the current practice and understanding of entrepreneurship in the context of academic institutions on the island of Ireland. A qualitative, sense-making methodology is used involving a purposeful sampling of perceptions from staff at academic institutions in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. First, the concept of academic entrepreneurship is explored both from an individual and from a corporate perspective. Second, comparative evidence of academic entrepreneurship is presented to highlight significant differences between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Recent contrasting policy differences are also identified. Third, a profile of the current state of academic entrepreneurship in Ireland is presented. The discussion then explores the main findings of the exercise and implications in terms of how academic institutions best engage with entrepreneurship. The conclusion outlines key areas for future research given the changing role of academic institutions in knowledge-based economies.