Technology and knowledge transfer from universities to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is seen as one way to strengthen a region's innovation capability. But what if SMEs do not want to play along? Looking back at some 10 years' experience of supporting SMEs, the authors describe in detail the 'Active Knowledge Transfer' programme, which aims to facilitate technology and knowledge transfer from universities to SMEs in the Graz region. The aim of the article is to provide an insight into the operational tasks of the programme and to discuss how a more active and broader-ranging approach to technology and knowledge transfer projects can overcome existing barriers between problem 'owners' and potential problem 'solvers'.