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Serendipity: Towards a taxonomy and a theory

Ohid Yaqub

Research Policy, 2018, vol. 47, issue 1, 169-179

Abstract: Serendipity, the notion of researchers making unexpected and beneficial discoveries, has played an important role in debates about the feasibility and desirability of targeting public R&D investments. The purpose of this paper is to show that serendipity can come in different forms and come about in a variety of ways. The archives of Robert K Merton, who introduced the term to the social sciences, were used as a starting point for gathering literature and examples. I identify four types of serendipity (Walpolian, Mertonian, Bushian, Stephanian) together with four mechanisms of serendipity (Theory-led, Observer-led, Error-borne, Network-emergent). I also discuss implications of the different types and mechanisms for theory and policy.

Keywords: Serendipity; Uncertainty; Research policy; Science policy; Technology policy; Innovation management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D80 O30 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (37)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:respol:v:47:y:2018:i:1:p:169-179

DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2017.10.007

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