A research training project investigating the role of creativity in human thinking and innovation is working with award-winning elearning company, Sponge.

CogNovo is a doctoral programme, funded by Plymouth University and the EU Marie Curie initiative, which is training PhD research fellows in the emerging field of cognitive innovation.

CogNovo offers training that combines scientific studies of creativity with investigations into the role of creativity in human cognition, and their application in sustainable technological and social innovation.

Sponge will be presenting the team of research fellows with a tricky business challenge with the aim of testing their problem-solving skills using cognitive innovation.

Sponge’s Creative Director, Kate Pasterfield, said:

“We are a creative business and our work involves coming up with creative solutions to problems, so when we heard about the CogNovo project we wanted to get involved.  It is exciting to have such an innovative field of study happening on our doorstep and we hope our involvement with CogNovo will be mutually beneficial for the research fellows and our business.”

Professor Sue Denham, Director of the Cognition Institute and co-ordinator of CogNovo, said:

“We are very pleased to be working with Sponge.  It will be exciting see what innovative solutions the CogNovo researchers can come up with when they apply their creative energies to the practical problems faced by a local business.”

Plymouth University is hosting a day of creative problem-solving where the CogNovo research fellows will have to tackle a real life business challenge and pitch an innovative concept in response.

The workshop takes place on Wednesday, April 29 at the university’s main campus.