At present, China's spectrometer market is in a stage of rapid growth, with application scenarios gradually expanding from scientific research-grade and industrial-grade to consumer-grade and medical-grade. To meet market demand, spectrometers are also continuously developing towards miniaturization, portability, integration, and high-end directions.

Chip-level spectrometer, also known as on-chip spectrometer or integrated spectrometer, is an ultra-miniature spectrometer (size < 1 cubic centimeter) that integrates the functionality of a spectrometer onto a chip. It boasts advantages such as high integration, small size, light weight, embeddability, and low cost, with broad application prospects in consumer electronics, wearable devices, medical diagnosis, environmental monitoring, IoT, robotic sensing, and other fields.

Spectrometers are one of the representative scientific research and analytical instruments, playing a vital role in basic research, chemical engineering, biopharmaceuticals, inspection and testing, food safety, and other industries. Currently, China's spectrometer market is growing rapidly, with application scenarios gradually expanding from scientific research-grade and industrial-grade to consumer-grade and medical-grade. To meet market demand, spectrometers are continuously developing towards miniaturization, portability, integration, and high-end directions. Miniaturization is an important development direction for spectrometers, with the global market for miniature spectrometers exceeding 2.5 billion yuan in 2023.

Chip-level spectrometers represent a further upgrade of miniature spectrometers. Depending on the technical route, chip-level spectrometers are mainly classified into four categories: Fourier transform type, dispersive type (grating scanning type), narrowband filter type, and computational reconstruction type. Among them, Fourier transform spectrometers can be further divided into spatial heterodyne Fourier transform type, thermally tuned Fourier transform type, digital Fourier transform type, and standing wave Fourier transform type. Additionally, chip-level spectrometers also include nanowire spectrometers, quantum dot spectrometers, metasurface spectrometers, etc.

Chip-level spectrometers typically consist of components such as a light source, detector, grating, monochromator, and chip. According to the "2024-2029 Chip-level Spectrometer (On-chip Spectrometer) Industry Market In-depth Research and Investment Prospect Forecast Analysis Report" released by the Sinomarket Research Center, chip-level spectrometer technology and R&D barriers are high. Foreign enterprises have an early start, with advantages in pioneering, technology, and experience, thus occupying a major share of the global market. Relevant foreign chip-level spectrometer companies include VIAVI, Thermo Fisher, Shimadzu, Jasco, Rockley Photonics, Senorics, and Unispectral.

Currently, China still relies heavily on imported spectrometers, especially in the field of high-end spectrometers. Miniature spectrometers are one of the high-end instruments that the country focuses on developing. In recent years, driven by national policies, China's chip-level spectrometer market has ushered in favorable development opportunities, and the gap between China and abroad has continued to narrow. Currently, relevant Chinese chip-level spectrometer companies include Haipu Nano, Beijing Zolix, Yuguang Technology, Qiushi Spectrometry, Guangyin Technology, and Najing Technology.

Sinomarket industry analysts stated that miniaturization is one of the essential development directions for spectrometers. Chip-level spectrometers, with their small size and high integration, align with this development direction. Spectrometers can meet consumer-grade application needs, and in recent years, as spectrometer applications have expanded, the market demand for chip-level spectrometers has continued to increase. Currently, both domestic and foreign chip-level spectrometer markets are in development, and with cost reductions and performance improvements, the market size of chip-level spectrometers will continue to grow.