# Joint research from Professor Melissa Schilling on uncharted technological terrain and breakthrough innovation is featured

1 Faculty News April 19, 2020 ![Gadget Logo 190 x 145](/sites/default/files/styles/246w/public/assets/images/Gadget-logo_190%20x%20145.jpg?itok=24rGXX1Q)>

Excerpt from [Gadget](https://gadget.co.za/pattern-behind-big-ideas-revealed/) -- "The study also considered the role of serendipity – exploring how long search paths, scientific reasoning or distant recombination might help inventors make the most of a chance discovery. 'Some inventions do seem to materialize out of thin air,' Kneeland said. 'But that’s not really a process you can encourage or teach.'
The paper was co-authored with [Melissa Schilling](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/melissa-schilling) of New York University’s Stern School of Business and Barak Aharonson of the Coller School of Management at Tel Aviv University.

[Read More](https://gadget.co.za/pattern-behind-big-ideas-revealed/)