Fundamental research reflects the ability to

Fundamental research reflects the ability to expound new principles and theories.

Synthesising new ideas from existing ones describes a lower-order recombination, not theory building.

Evaluating existing research material is the task of review or evaluative work, not basic research.

Studying existing literature on various topics is preparatory reading rather than original theory.

Fundamental or basic research aims to expand knowledge for its own sake.

Its findings often become the foundation later exploited by applied research.