Serendipity in research and development: The promise of putting into place patterns for paying attention

David C. Thompson; Samantha M. Copeland

doi:10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103648

Serendipity in research and development: The promise of putting into place patterns for paying attention

David C. Thompson^*, Samantha M. Copeland

^*Corresponding author for this work

Ethics & Philosophy of Technology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Short survey › peer-review

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Abstract

The concept of serendipity or accidental discovery is typically discussed in the context of organizational research and development (RnD) through narratives involving ‘renegade iconoclasts’ laboring at the periphery. Recently, robust academic literature has emerged that grounds serendipity epistemologically. In the current work, this literature is introduced in the context of the typical activities of contemporary life science-focused RnD organizations. Practical patterns are described that can increase the likelihood of realizing accidental (serendipitous) RnD discoveries.

Original language	English
Article number	103648
Journal	Drug Discovery Today
Volume	28
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103648
Publication status	Published - 2023

Bibliographical note

Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.

Keywords

accidental discovery
innovation
organizational theory
research and development
serendipity

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10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103648

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title = "Serendipity in research and development: The promise of putting into place patterns for paying attention",

abstract = "The concept of serendipity or accidental discovery is typically discussed in the context of organizational research and development (RnD) through narratives involving {\textquoteleft}renegade iconoclasts{\textquoteright} laboring at the periphery. Recently, robust academic literature has emerged that grounds serendipity epistemologically. In the current work, this literature is introduced in the context of the typical activities of contemporary life science-focused RnD organizations. Practical patterns are described that can increase the likelihood of realizing accidental (serendipitous) RnD discoveries.",

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year = "2023",

doi = "10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103648",

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N2 - The concept of serendipity or accidental discovery is typically discussed in the context of organizational research and development (RnD) through narratives involving ‘renegade iconoclasts’ laboring at the periphery. Recently, robust academic literature has emerged that grounds serendipity epistemologically. In the current work, this literature is introduced in the context of the typical activities of contemporary life science-focused RnD organizations. Practical patterns are described that can increase the likelihood of realizing accidental (serendipitous) RnD discoveries.

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Serendipity in research and development: The promise of putting into place patterns for paying attention

Abstract

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Keywords

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