The article showed the essential side of V. P. Zinchenko’s scientific activity — the creation and support of new directions in science. The role of V. P. Zinchenko in the creation of domestic ergonomics as an independent science and the invitation of E. G. Yudin to participate in its creation, the importance of V. P. Zinchenko’s leadership of F. E. Vasilyuk’s dissertation research for the creation of understanding psychotherapy by him, support for B. G. Meshcheryakov’s work on the logical and semantic analysis of L. S. Vygotsky’s cultural and historical theory are considered. The importance of V. P. Zinchenko’s initiative for the creation of a manual on ergonomics of the Comecon countries and its significant role in the scientific career of the author of the article is shown.