How Are Raman, Infrared, and Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy Evolving Competitively?

In the below video clip, Janam Pandya, Product Manager at Thermo Fisher Scientific, discusses the state of the analytical instrument market, focusing on Raman, near-infrared (NIR), and mid-infrared (MIR) instruments.

Spectroscopy: How do you see Raman, NIR, and mid-IR evolving competitively over the next five years?

Janam Pandya: Thermo Fisher Scientific, as a company, is committed to providing solutions across a broad range of analytical technologies. We manufacture and support Raman, including the Thermo Scientific™ MarqMetrix™ All-In-One Process Raman Analyzer, as well as FT-IR, and IR analyzers, and we continue to see strong interest in spectroscopy techniques for process analytical technologies (PAT) and process measurements and the value that these tools offer when it comes to driving the adoption of real-time measurements. You get fast analytical data, and you're going to get technology specific insights that help operators make more informed decisions and optimize their processes.

We expect to see the market for each of these techniques grow anywhere between 5–12% CAGR. We're also seeing these technologies evolve in complementary ways rather than competing directly with one another. While Raman, NIR, and IR are all vibrational spectroscopy techniques, each offer a specific advantage in for specific applications.

For example, Raman spectroscopy excels in specificity. Raman provides highly detailed molecular information, such as distinguishing between orthohydrogen versus parahydrogen. That level of specificity is driving a lot of interest in applications where detailed compositional information is required, making Raman really valuable.

NIR, on the other hand, is really good at measuring bulk compositional measurements, especially when there is a trace amount of moisture involved. NIR is a go-to technique for moisture and water analysis because of the high sensitivity you can’t get when using another analytical technique.

IR spectroscopy will continue to play an important part where strong fundamental vibrational information is required. We expect all three technologies to remain important and continue growing in the coming five years, each supporting process analysis in distinct and complementary ways.

This clip is the fourth part of a five-part interview series with Pandya. You can view our previous interview segments with Pandya in the literature.^1-3 In the next and final video, Pandya will offer some career advice for young researchers looking to break into industry and analytical instrumentation.

References

1. Pandya, J.; Wetzel, W. Where is Raman Spectroscopy Delivering the Most Value for Real-Time Chemical Analysis in Oil and Gas? Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/where-is-raman-spectroscopy-delivering-the-most-value-for-real-time-chemical-analysis-in-oil-and-gas- (Accessed June 18, 2026)
2. Pandya, J. Wetzel, W. What Does Field-Deployable Instrumentation Look Like in Harsh Environments? Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/what-does-field-deployable-instrumentation-look-like-in-harsh-environments- (Accessed June 20, 2026).
3. Pandya, J.; Wetzel, W. How Do Molecular Analyzers Fit Into Digitalization and Closed-Loop Process Control? Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/how-do-molecular-analyzers-fit-into-digitalization-and-closed-loop-process-control- (Accessed June 23, 2026).