synergy

In general, synergy (pronounced SIN-ur-jee , from Greek sunergia , meaning "cooperation," and also sunergos , meaning "working together") is the combined working together of two or more parts of a system so that the combined effect is greater than the sum of the efforts of the parts. In business and technology, the term describes a hoped-for or real effect resulting from different individuals, departments, or companies working together and stimulating new ideas that result in greater productivity.

The process of synergy as a way of originating new ideas or making new discoveries can be contrasted to serendipity , in which ideas and discoveries emerge seemingly by accident.