The 2025 National Science and Technology Progress Award (First Prize) was conferred on the project 'Key Technologies for Green and Intelligent Manufacturing of the Polyester Fiber Industry Chain,' led by Tongkun Group in collaboration with Donghua University and nine other entities. Announced on July 8 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, this award marks the highest national scientific honor for the textile and chemical fiber sector in recent years, signaling that China's polyester fiber full-chain technology has achieved a self-reliant innovation system.
Industry Background and Strategic Significance
Polyester fiber is the fundamental raw material for the textile industry, with China accounting for 70% of global chemical fiber production, of which polyester dominates. Upgrading this industry directly alleviates the 'grain-cotton land competition,' secures the industrial chain, and enhances downstream product quality. The project aligns with China's 'dual carbon' goals and new quality productive forces strategy, establishing a complete pathway for low-carbon production, intelligent control, and flexible manufacturing.
Technological Breakthroughs and System Building
The project, led by Professor Wang Huaping from Donghua University and with deep involvement from academician Zhu Meifang, took over a decade of collaborative research. Breakthroughs span three dimensions:
- Green manufacturing: A direct-coupling PTA-PET low-carbon mode, eco-friendly titanium-based catalysts, and a full-lifecycle green standard.
- Intelligent manufacturing: Full-process automation upgrades, large-scale domestic replacement of DCS control systems, and an integrated quality management system.
- Service-oriented manufacturing: A 'multi-head multi-tail' serial-parallel polymerization platform enabling customized, differentiated polyester fiber production.
The project has generated 76 authorized invention patents, 10 software copyrights, and 14 national/industry standards. Expert panels rated the overall technology as internationally leading. Applications in Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Xinjiang, and over 10 other industry sites have resulted in cumulative new sales exceeding 200 billion RMB, profits and taxes over 10 billion RMB, and export earnings of 1.8 billion USD, with significant reductions in energy consumption and defect rates.
International Cooperation Dimension
The International Science and Technology Cooperation Award was given to Professor Elsa Reichmanis from Lehigh University, USA. She has long collaborated with Donghua University's state key laboratory on joint training, research, and conferences, publishing 18 high-impact papers and advancing the international fiber conference. This reflects the deepening of China's textile industry in fundamental research and global collaboration.
Industry Impact and Assessment
For downstream buyers, the technology means improved supply stability, quality consistency, and cost competitiveness. The flexible manufacturing platform enables small-batch, multi-variety customization, benefiting brands developing high-value products.
For factories and foreign trade companies, intelligent upgrades and green standards provide solid data support for complying with carbon border adjustment mechanisms and other green barriers, while domestic DCS system replacement reduces equipment costs and reliance on imports.