Polyester Fiber Full-Chain Technology Wins Top National Science Award, Marking Self-Reliant System for Chemical Fiber Industry

Polyester fiber, often called the 'industrial staple' of textiles, now sees its full-chain technology achieve a historic milestone. The 2025 National Science and Technology Progress Award first prize was awarded to the project 'Key Technologies for Green and Intelligent Manufacturing in the Polyester Fiber Industry Chain,' led by Tongkun Group with Donghua University, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, and seven other partners. This marks a systemic leap from isolated innovations to an integrated, self-reliant system for China's chemical fiber sector.

Industry Impact

The core value of this award-winning project lies not in improving a single link but in closing the entire chain from raw materials to end products. China produces 70% of global chemical fiber, with polyester fiber ranking first among all types. Once scaled, these technologies will reshape global capacity and cost curves.

The project achieved breakthroughs in three dimensions: in green manufacturing, it pioneered a direct PTA-PET coupling low-carbon model and developed eco-friendly titanium-based catalysts, enabling a full lifecycle low-carbon path; in intelligent manufacturing, it completed large-scale domestic substitution of DCS control systems, establishing an integrated process-quality management system; in service-oriented manufacturing, it created a 'multi-head multi-tail' series-parallel polymerization platform for customized differentiated polyester products and multi-region agile manufacturing.

Deployed in over 10 enterprises across Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Xinjiang, the project generated cumulative new sales exceeding 200 billion CNY, profits and taxes over 10 billion CNY, and export earnings of 1.8 billion USD. For downstream buyers, this means more stable supply, competitive costs, and enhanced availability of differentiated products like functional and green fibers.

The Power of Industry-Academia Collaboration

Notably, the project was led by an enterprise (Tongkun) with core technical teams from universities. This model of 'enterprise posing problems, academia solving them, market validating results' has precedents—the 2017 first-prize carbon fiber project followed a similar structure.

Donghua University's State Key Laboratory for Advanced Fiber Materials served as the technology source. Professor Wang Huaping was the first completer, with Academician Zhu Meifang deeply involved, creating a fast track from basic research to engineering application. Meanwhile, Donghua professor Elsa Reichmanis received the International Science and Technology Cooperation Award for her long-term efforts in Sino-US scientific exchange, chairing multiple editions of the world's largest fiber conference. Two top awards at one university signal that China's fiber discipline is shifting from technology import to a balance of technology export and standard leadership.

Practical Recommendations

For Buyers - Focus on green fiber lines from leading companies like Tongkun. Polyester made with eco-friendly titanium catalysts will increasingly meet international green trade barriers such as the EU's CBAM. Early adoption can lower future compliance costs. - The customization capability (e.g., 'multi-head multi-tail' platform) means buyers can request non-standard specifications more flexibly. Establish joint R&D mechanisms with suppliers holding such technology to shorten sample development cycles.

For Exporters - The project's 14 national and industry standards provide quantifiable technical endorsements. In exports to high-end markets (Europe, US), actively cite these green and intelligent manufacturing standards as leverage for better pricing. - The 1.8 billion USD export figure shows technology dividends have translated into real export competitiveness. Exporters should monitor replication possibilities of project technologies (e.g., direct coupling low-carbon model) in overseas capacity, especially in Southeast Asia, to reduce single-origin risk.