Public Summary Johan Bucher

Winning the KIVI EngD Award would not only honor a personal milestone it would illuminate a transformative moment for the emerging EngD program at Wageningen University & Research. Through the anticipated article in De Ingenieur, this recognition would extend far beyond individual achievement, offering a platform to showcase the strength of engineering innovation in life sciences. It would amplify the visibility of both the program and the groundbreaking technology that bridges digital engineering with plant biology.

This EngD project has already begun shaping the future of digital plant twins, creating a living interface between data, design, and growth. Such an achievement demonstrates how engineering precision can enhance biological understanding, opening new frontiers in sustainable production, monitoring, and environmental modeling. For KIVI members and visitors, this project might spark new collaborations and inspire the exploration of parallel fields where digital twins can revolutionize how we interact with living systems.

This is more than a technological advancement; it is a vision of integration uniting disciplines, industries, and ideas into a single digital ecosystem of growth. The impact extends from laboratories to greenhouses, from researchers to innovators. It represents a true win-win for both science and society.

As the first HBO graduate to complete an EngD program, I carry this achievement as proof that boundaries between applied and academic science can, and should be crossed. My journey reflects the potential for diverse talents to contribute to high-level engineering research. If honored with this award, I hope my story will inspire others to pursue the same path of curiosity, resilience, and innovation.

With the support of this prize, I intend to take decisive steps toward founding a spin-off company transforming this technology from a research success into a tangible solution for a sustainable, data-driven future. The award would thus not only celebrate past achievement, but also empower the next chapter of impact, where knowledge truly takes root and innovation grows.