The　rise　of　laser　diode　(LD)-driven　phosphor-converted　near-infrared　(NIR)　lighting　sources,　offering　unparalleled　advantages　in　terms　of　brightness　and　imaging　resolution,　is　hindered　by　a　scarcity　of　color　converters　possessing　desired　properties.　Herein,　we　synthesized　a　new　Ca2YScAl2Si2O12:Cr3+　(CYSAS:Cr3+)　broadband　NIR-emissive　garnet　phosphor　with　a　full　width　at　half　maximum　(FWHM)　of　165　nm,　attributed　to　the　presence　of　Cr3+　ions　at　two　distinct　crystallographic　sites　in　CYSAS　as　verified　through　spectroscopic　analyses.　With　the　aid　of　a　rapid　infrared　firing　technique　pioneered　in　our　lab,　a　phosphor-in-glass　film　(PiGF)　composite　was　then　successfully　sintered　onto　a　sapphire　plate　(SP),　showing　minimal　interfacial　reactions　during　co-sintering　and　thus　retention　of　luminescent　properties.　The　saturation　behavior　of　luminescence　under　intense　blue　laser　irradiation　was　meticulously　examined　across　different　excitation　modes.　By　incorporating　a　＇phosphor　wheel＇,　we　achieved　a　peak　NIR　output　power　of　2626　mW　(@17　W　or　21.7　W　mm−2),　surpassing　the　majority　of　previously　reported　phosphor-converted　lighting　sources.　The　demonstration　experiments　highlighted　the　potential　applications　of　the　engineered　laser-driven　NIR　light　source　in　non-destructive　detection,　quantitative　analysis　of　organic　components,　night　vision　and　biological　imaging.　©　2025　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry.