Bio-inspired design aims at the development of novel, creative solutions with the potential for innovative technical products. It implies the use of different information sources, such as research publications or videos, and knowledge from biology. The influence of information and knowledge from biology on the variety of solution ideas as one criterion for creativity remains to be examined. In this work, we therefore analyse the impact of information and knowledge from biology on the variety of solution ideas generated by pairs of biologists and mechanical engineers working in uni-and bi-disciplinary pairs. The results show a positive influence of information and knowledge from biology on the variety of solution ideas. Moreover, they indicate the need for a support of biologists and mechanical engineers to effectively increase the variety of solution ideas on different levels of abstraction.     «

Bio-inspired design aims at the development of novel, creative solutions with the potential for innovative technical products. It implies the use of different information sources, such as research publications or videos, and knowledge from biology. The influence of information and knowledge from biology on the variety of solution ideas as one criterion for creativity remains to be examined. In this work, we therefore analyse the impact of information and knowledge from biology on the variety of...     »