Motivation Ivo Tjalma

I hereby submit my candidacy for the KIVI EngD Award 2025, based on my Individual Design Project (IDP) titled “Cultivation of Animal Proteins as Three-Dimensional Structures: Modelling and Simulation Studies.” This work reflects the core values of the EngD program: engineering excellence, real-world relevance, and interdisciplinary innovation. 

During the IDP in Bioprocess Engineering at TU Delft, I developed a conceptual process for the scalable production of structured cultivated meat using edible hollow fiber bioreactors. The project addresses a major bottleneck in cellular agriculture: the lack of scalable, costeffective technologies for producing sustainable whole-cut meat alternatives with resembling structure and quality.

The centerpiece of this work is a custom-built integrated model, combining mass balances, reactor and fiber design, scalable cost functions, and a solver-based optimization engine. The model dynamically recalculates reactor configurations and operational parameters to minimize cost per unit of product under defined physical and quality constraints. It enabled sensitivity analyses, scenario comparisons, and trade-off evaluations across more than 25 parameters. The model has already served as a reference framework for both industry and academia, guiding strategic decisions and setting concrete targets for further research.

This project was presented at ECCE & ECAB 2025 in Lisbon, where it sparked valuable discussions and interest from researchers across Europe. A manuscript is currently being finalized for publication, and the model is being used by a PhD researcher for further development. Several academics outside TUD have requested access to the report and model, which may be honored post-publication. 

The work does not claim to be a complete solution, but it offers a robust and adaptable screening tool for assessing the feasibility of scaling HFBs for cultivated meat production. It is a clear example of engineering ingenuity applied to a complex interdisciplinary challenge. During and beyond the project, I also engaged actively with the Cellular Agriculture Netherlands consortium, contributing to broader discussions on strategic process development and sector-wide innovation.

Following the EngD graduation (cum laude), I was offered and accepted a PhD position in the same Bioprocess Engineering group at TU Delft, continuing my work in complex interdisciplinary process design. This transition reflects the scientific merit and strategic relevance of my EngD work, and my ability to contribute meaningfully to long-term research efforts. 

Beyond the technical achievements, I was also an active member of the EngD community, where I participated in several committees of DIDEA, our Ingenious Design Employees Association. Moreover, I have actively supported peers and students during coursework, acted as a design coach, and engaged with the Bioprocess Engineering section. I consistently aimed to elevate the collaborative and professional culture of the program and university. 

This project exemplifies the spirit of the KIVI EngD Award: it is innovative, impactful, and grounded in engineering reality. I am proud to submit this work as a reflection of what the EngD stands for.