The transition to the circular economy (CE) in the construction industry requires a shift from conventional researcher’s roles and thinking styles. The shift is crucial for an industry, which is known for its massive waste generation and resource use globally. The need for collaboration skills cannot be over-emphasized since many CE initiatives involve several stakeholders with diverse interests and approaches to problem solving. It is crucial that CE researchers contribute to the development of theories that are relevant to social issues as well as science in order to enable real-world societal changes and to fast-track the transition to a circular construction sector.