ONLINE PHOTONIC MULTITENSOR TECHNIQUES FOR SUSTAINABLE USE OF RESOURCES PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND CONTROL.

The current global situation, marked by the rising cost and scarcity of raw materials, together with the transition toward a more competitive, ecological, and sustainable economy, demands greater efficiency in manufacturing processes and throughout the product life cycle. In regions such as the Basque Country, where dependence on imported raw materials is high, maximizing resource efficiency is essential. This challenge involves reducing waste generation, recovering and revalorizing materials, and manufacturing high value-added products. Furthermore, industrial digitalization and the implementation of monitoring and quality control systems are key to minimizing defects and optimizing processes. These goals are fully aligned with the European Green Deal Industrial Plan (2023), which seeks to boost industrial competitiveness through investment in clean technologies and progress toward climate neutrality. Achieving these objectives requires precise characterization at every stage of the product life cycle, from the chemical composition of raw materials to waste flow analysis. Traditionally, this has been done using laboratory analyses or machine vision systems, both with notable limitations in cost, time, or precision. However, the development of advanced photonic sensors offers the potential to perform real-time physical, chemical, and structural characterization comparable to laboratory analyses. Yet, the widespread adoption of such technologies still faces technical and economic challenges that must be addressed to achieve a truly efficient, sustainable, and intelligent industry.