Is academia addressing relevant questions to support a circularity transition in Latin America and the Caribbean?

Abstract Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is advancing toward a Circular Economy (CE), supported by expanding policy initiatives and a growing body of academic research. Over the past decade, CE academic studies in the region have examined developments at multiple sectors, scales and circular strategies, thus, contributing to CE research in the region. Yet, it remains uncertain whether academic research addresses the critical questions most relevant for non-academic stakeholders—including policymakers, practitioners, and businesses—to support the CE transition in LAC. To assess this alignment, we compared 51 priority questions identified by 19 CE experts in LAC countries with the research objectives of 335 scientific publications on CE in the region. The analysis reveals the extent to which stakeholder priorities are reflected in academic literature and highlights persistent gaps where further research is needed. Our findings stress the importance of fostering more collaborative, transdisciplinary, and stakeholder-oriented research to accelerate a just and effective CE transition in LAC.