On July 8, the 2025 National Science and Technology Awards were announced in Beijing. In the textile and chemical fiber sector, the project 'Key Technologies for Green and Intelligent Manufacturing of the Polyester Fiber Industry Chain' won the first prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award. This marks the third time the textile industry has claimed this top honor, following breakthroughs in carbon fiber in 2017 and digital dyeing in 2014. However, unlike previous awards that focused on specialty fibers or single-point equipment, this project covers the entire chain of polyester fiber—the 'industrial staple' accounting for over 70% of China's chemical fiber output—from raw materials to end products.
Full-Chain Technical System: From Single-Point Breakthroughs to System Integration
Polyester fiber is a fundamental bulk raw material for the textile industry. With China producing 70% of the world's chemical fibers, polyester fiber ranks first among all types. While the industry has achieved breakthroughs in specialty fibers and dyeing equipment, systemic technological innovation across the entire polyester fiber chain remained a gap. This award-winning project fills that void.
Led by Professor Wang Huaping from Donghua University and spearheaded by Tongkun Group, the project brought together ten institutions including Donghua University and Zhejiang Sci-Tech University over more than a decade of research. The team achieved core breakthroughs in three dimensions: first, green manufacturing, introducing a direct-coupling low-carbon production model for PTA-PET, developing environmentally friendly titanium-based catalysts and green oiling technology; second, intelligent manufacturing, completing full-process automation upgrades and achieving large-scale domestic replacement of DCS control systems; third, service-oriented manufacturing, creating a 'multi-head multi-tail' series-parallel composite polymerization technology platform for modular, digital production of differentiated products.
This technical system gives China complete independent intellectual property rights for the largest category of chemical fibers. The project has formed a portfolio of 76 authorized invention patents, 10 software copyrights, and 14 national and industry standards, with an expert panel deeming the overall technology at an internationally leading level.
Industrial Impact: Over 200 Billion Yuan in New Sales Behind Chain Restructuring
Technical breakthroughs must translate into industrial results. Public data shows the project's outcomes have been implemented in over 10 enterprises across industrial bases in Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Xinjiang, generating cumulative new sales of over 200 billion yuan, profits and taxes exceeding 10 billion yuan, and export earnings of 1.8 billion US dollars. These figures reflect a systemic efficiency improvement across the polyester fiber chain.
For the textile industry, this means several things. First, green production reduces carbon emissions, supporting China's 'dual carbon' goals. Second, intelligent manufacturing lowers defect rates and energy consumption, boosting international competitiveness. Third, service-oriented manufacturing enables precise customization for downstream clients, aiding brand development and product upgrades.
Notably, Tongkun Group, as the lead unit, was selected as a national pilot 'zero-waste enterprise' and recognized as a 'National Service-oriented Manufacturing Demonstration Enterprise', showing the technology's transition from lab to factory and from single company to broader industrial clusters.
International Cooperation Award: Enhancing Global Influence of Fiber Science
Alongside the first prize, the International Science and Technology Cooperation Award was presented to Professor Elsa Reichmanis, a distinguished professor at Lehigh University and a member of the US National Academy of Engineering. She has long promoted US-China tech exchanges and collaborated deeply with Donghua University's State Key Laboratory for Advanced Fiber Materials since 2013, co-training talent and publishing papers.
This award reflects Chinese textiles' evolving role in global research. While the industry previously relied on technology introduction and absorption, the maturation of independent systems now positions China as an active player in global fiber materials science. Donghua University's dual honors underscore the growing synergy between academia and industry.