Polyester fiber, the 'staple crop' of the textile industry, dictates China's global standing in chemical fibers. The 2025 National Science and Technology Progress First Prize was awarded to the 'Key Technologies for Green and Smart Manufacturing in the Polyester Fiber Industry Chain' project, led by Tongkun Group and ten other entities including Donghua University. This marks the first time the prize has focused on the entire chain of commodity polyester fibers, signaling national recognition of systemic technological integration from raw materials to end products.
Three Pillars of Full-Chain Technological Breakthrough
The core of this project, which involved over a decade of collaborative research, lies in integrating green, smart, and service-oriented manufacturing. In green manufacturing, it pioneered a PTA-PET direct coupling low-carbon model, developed eco-friendly titanium-based catalysts to replace heavy metals, and established a full lifecycle green standard. This directly addresses the industry's 'dual carbon' pressure by significantly reducing carbon and pollutant emissions.
For smart manufacturing, the project achieved large-scale domestic replacement of DCS control systems and built an integrated process-quality control system. For factories, this means higher yield rates and lower energy costs. According to public industry data, the project's outcomes have been deployed in over 10 facilities, generating over 200 billion yuan in new sales, 10 billion yuan in profits and taxes, and $1.8 billion in export earnings, while sharply reducing industry-wide energy consumption and defect rates.
The breakthrough in service-oriented manufacturing comes from a 'multi-head, multi-tail' series-parallel composite polymerization platform. This platform enables customized production of differentiated polyester fiber products and multi-region agile manufacturing, allowing factories to shift from standardized output to flexible production tailored to downstream apparel and home textile needs.
Direct Impact and Opportunities for Industrial Clusters
The project has been promoted in Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Xinjiang. For traditional clusters like Shengze and Keqiao, this is both a template for upgrade and a signal for competitive reshuffling. SMEs relying on outdated equipment and high-energy processes will face greater cost pressure and risk of elimination. Conversely, early adopters of domestic DCS systems and green catalysts can build dual advantages in energy efficiency and quality.
In Xinjiang, an emerging polyester fiber base, the project is expected to accelerate local integration from raw materials to weaving, easing the 'grain-cotton conflict' and reducing reliance on eastern coastal supply chains. For foreign trade companies, the $1.8 billion export figure suggests that green and smart manufacturing labels are becoming key differentiators for international buyers.
Significance of Industry-Academia Collaboration
The project was led by Donghua University researcher Wang Huaping and partnered with Tongkun Group. The deep involvement of Donghua's State Key Laboratory for Advanced Fiber Materials ensured a clear path from basic research to industrialization. Notably, Donghua also received the International Science and Technology Cooperation Award; recipient Professor Elsa Reichmanis has long promoted US-China fiber materials exchange, with several co-trained talents now in national talent programs. This reveals a trend: China's textile innovation is no longer closed-door but accelerates through international cooperation.