On creativity in science and technology

A creative task in science and technology is a task of solving a contradiction. Introducing the conception of << the state of the problem >> space and an abstract model of a creative task, the author argues that solution of a problem lies in expanding the space by means of introducing an additional generalized reference point, so that the contradiction is solved through distributing the required contradictory properties according to different generalized reference points of the expanded space. The author sites examples from different areas of science and technology, illustrating the proposed model and the method of solution, pointing out that the principle described can serve as a theoretical basis for developing techniques for solving creative tasks.