What Sparks Cognitive Creativity?

Cognitive creativity—producing an idea or behavior that is not just novel but useful—is important throughout the living world. Despite the popular image of the lone genius with a flash of insight, such creativity is more likely to involve a complex of conditions and processes than a simple trait or activity. It may not even be a unitary phenomenon; there is some evidence that the conditions fostering creativity in mathematics and the sciences differ from those in other fields.

Could it be that different kinds of cognitive creativity and innovation are different phenomena in terms of origins and processes? Although there is much work already under way on this subject, more is needed, especially on (1) the sources of creativity; (2) the mechanisms of innovation (are they the same in humans as in other animals, among scientists as among entrepreneurs?); (3) the precursors of cognitive creativity in biological processes and living beings; and (4) the social, cultural, and environmental conditions that foster (or suppress) creative behavior.

Within this theme, the Foundation invites funding inquiries for research and programs responding directly to one or more of the following Big Questions:

1. 1What are the sources of innovation among non-human animals and what can this tell us about human creativity?
   
2. 2How does creativity evolve, and can we enhance it?
   
3. 3What are the roles of information and information processing in the generation of innovation and the process of creativity?

Budget range and term for individual projects: up to $400,000 and up to two years. Collaborative research is of particular interest. Requests for smaller planning grants to explore new research designs are also encouraged.