How Optical Microscopy is Advancing Industrial Research

In an interaction with Industry Outlook, Amarjeet Singh Tak, Head Research and Microscopy at ZEISS India, discusses how India's push for faster innovation is elevating the role of advanced microscopy in industrial research. He highlights its growing use in non-destructive analysis, digital workflows, and AI integration, while also addressing adoption challenges and scalable access solutions for smaller labs.

Amarjeet Singh Tak is a healthcare leader with over two decades of experience, recognized for driving growth, transformation, and innovation. He has led high-performing teams globally, earning accolades for operational excellence, cross-functional leadership, and impactful commercial outcomes.

With Indian industries pushing for faster innovation cycles, Microscopy is gaining new relevance. How is this shift influencing microscopy-led research across sectors?

The acceleration of innovation cycles in India is fundamentally transforming the role of microscopy in research and development. Microscopy is no longer just a tool for academic inquiry; it is now central to driving rapid prototyping, quality assurance, and product optimization across sectors such as electronics, automotive, pharmaceuticals, and advanced materials. Faster innovation demands real-time feedback, which modern microscopy platforms provide by enabling high-throughput, high-resolution imaging and analysis. This shift is fostering a culture of data-driven decision-making and is critical to maintaining competitiveness in global markets.

Material-sensitive industries are demanding faster, non-destructive analysis methods. What role does microscopy play in meeting these evolving material evaluation needs?

Microscopy has evolved to offer powerful, non-destructive techniques—such as X-ray microscopy and computed tomography (micro-CT)—that allow for 3D imaging of internal structures without damaging the sample. This capability is particularly crucial for industries like aerospace, automotive, and electronics, where material integrity directly impacts safety and performance. Modern electron and X-ray microscopes provide rapid, high-resolution insights into defects, phase distributions, and compositional variations, enabling manufacturers to implement stringent quality controls and accelerate their material development pipelines.

The need for digital imaging and image analysis is growing across pharma, electronics, and manufacturing. How is the industry embracing this transformation in everyday research workflows?

Industries are increasingly digitizing their research workflows by integrating advanced digital imaging and automated image analysis platforms. This transformation is driven by the need for reproducibility, large-scale data management, and objective quantification. Solutions such as automated defect recognition, AI-powered segmentation, and cloud-based data sharing are now embedded in everyday microscopy workflows. For example, in pharmaceuticals, digital microscopy enables faster and more accurate drug development, while in electronics, automated inspection systems drastically reduce human error and speed up failure analysis.

Industries are seeking microscopy solutions that combine speed, accuracy, and ease of use. What challenges are limiting the large-scale adoption of such technologies across Indian labs?

The primary challenges limiting large-scale adoption are the high capital investment required for state-of-the-art systems, limited access to skilled personnel, and the need for robust digital infrastructure to handle and analyze large datasets. Additionally, there is often a gap in user training and support, which can hinder optimal utilization. Addressing these challenges requires a multi-pronged approach: developing cost-effective, user-friendly systems, offering comprehensive training programs, and establishing regional application support centers to ensure sustained value delivery.

Smaller industrial labs often struggle to access advanced imaging tools due to cost and complexity. What scalable approaches are emerging to close this capability gap?

Shared laboratory facilities, centers of excellence, and paid service labs are emerging as scalable solutions to bridge the capability gap for smaller industrial labs. These models allow access to advanced microscopy infrastructure and expert support without the burden of direct ownership costs. Academia can play a pivotal role by opening their well-equipped labs to nearby industrial clusters, fostering public-private partnerships. For example, countries like Germany and Singapore have successfully implemented shared instrumentation centers that serve both academic and industrial stakeholders, enhancing innovation and workforce upskilling. Similar collaborative models are gaining traction in India and are supported by government and industry initiatives.

AI-integrated microscopy is expected to redefine industrial diagnostics and process control. How prepared is the industry to shift towards intelligent imaging platforms for future R&D?

The industry is in the early but accelerating stages of adopting AI-integrated microscopy platforms. ZEISS is already leveraging AI for automated defect detection, predictive maintenance, and process optimization. However, widespread adoption requires addressing challenges related to data standardization, algorithm validation, and integration with existing IT ecosystems. There is a growing emphasis on workforce training and cross-disciplinary collaboration between domain experts and data scientists. As AI-driven solutions demonstrate tangible improvements in efficiency and accuracy, industry readiness will continue to improve, positioning intelligent imaging as the backbone of future R&D.