While academia-industry collaborations have primarily served to ensure ecological validity until recently, such collaborations are now seen as essential for solving wicked problems, such as the current transition of energy systems. Despite the upside potential, there are major challenges facing those who embark on academia-industry collaborations. Although applied researchers in general likely encounter similar challenges, this paper focuses on challenges of energy research collaborations between private industry and social scientists. We frame collaboration as an inherently social process, whereby a project is developed and proceeds, with errors made and successes achieved, within the context of social relationships. We argue that social breakdowns and different institutional values underlie most collaboration challenges, and that these issues need to be recognised and addressed to increase the chances of successful collaboration. We provide recommendations for improving industry-social science collaborations in energy research, concluding that like any other social relationship, given proper communication, agreed upon expectations, and shared values, industry and academia can make a perfect pair.