Abstract
The competitiveness and sustainability of modern processing industries increasingly depend on their ability to transform rich process data into actionable insight and robust control strategies. While Near-Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is already a well-established PAT tool, many industrial applications remain constrained by surface-sensitivity, contact requirements, and limited robustness under real-world process conditions.
In this plenary lecture, I will present SenseInside, a novel non-contact, subsurface NIR sensing instrument developed in collaboration between SINTEF and Nofima, Norway, for demanding food products- it also has relevance beyond the food sector. SenseInside enables chemical and structural measurements beneath the surface (up to ~2cm) of heterogeneous materials at stand-off distances of up to ~20 cm, allowing true in-line and at-line deployment without physical contact. This capability opens new possibilities for continuous quality monitoring and process control in applications where conventional reflectance or contact-based NIR solutions fall short.
A key element of the presentation is our method of working, where sensor development is driven by real industrial challenges. We tightly integrate fundamental understanding of light–matter interaction, advanced instrumentation, and data analytics. This approach means SenseInside is scientifically sound, aligned with industrial needs, and ready for the commercialisation scaling that we have currently underway.