The announcement of the 2025 National Science and Technology Awards sent a strong signal to the textile and chemical fiber industry: the polyester fiber chain, often called the 'industrial staple,' now has a complete self-reliant technology system from raw materials to finished products. The project 'Key Technologies for Green and Intelligent Manufacturing of the Polyester Fiber Chain,' led by Tongkun Group and involving Donghua University and nine other units, won the first prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award. This is not only the industry's return to this top honor after several years but also marks a qualitative leap in China's technological influence in general-purpose fibers.
Background: From 'Single Champion' to 'Full-Chain Breakthrough'
Over the past decade, the textile industry has accumulated 28 national science and technology awards, with first prizes mostly focused on special fibers or point-specific equipment—such as carbon fiber in 2017 and digital dyeing in 2014—addressing 'whether something exists' or 'point breakthroughs.' This polyester fiber project, however, covers the entire process from PTA to polyester, spinning, texturing, and final products, encompassing green, intelligent, and service-oriented manufacturing. Such a 'full-chain' award is unprecedented in the chemical fiber field, reflecting years of collaborative research among industry, academia, and research institutions.
China accounts for 70% of global chemical fiber production, with polyester fiber leading among all types. The sheer scale of the industry means any technological upgrade yields massive economic and social benefits. The project has generated 76 authorized invention patents, 10 software copyrights, and 14 national and industry standards, with cumulative new sales exceeding 200 billion yuan, profits and taxes over 10 billion yuan, and export earnings of 1.8 billion USD. Behind these numbers are substantial reductions in energy consumption and defect rates, providing a real-world benchmark for industrial upgrading under the 'dual carbon' goals.
Industry Impact: How Three Technological Pillars Reshape the Supply Chain
In the green manufacturing dimension, the project's pioneering PTA-PET direct-coupled low-carbon production model bypasses multiple intermediate steps in traditional processes, complemented by environmentally friendly titanium catalysts and crude oil-based fiber oils, creating a full lifecycle low-carbon pathway from raw materials to finished products. This means polyester fiber producers will see significantly reduced carbon footprints—a tangible competitive advantage for exporters facing the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
On the intelligent manufacturing front, the large-scale localization of DCS control systems is another key milestone. Previously, high-end control systems in Chinese chemical fiber plants relied heavily on imports, with high costs and supply chain risks. The project's full-process automation upgrade and integrated process-quality control system provide a replicable 'China solution.' For buyers, this translates to greater stability in upstream suppliers' production capacity and product consistency.
The service-oriented manufacturing dimension, with its 'multi-head, multi-tail' series-parallel composite polymerization technology platform, resolves the conflict between customization and mass production. Traditional polyester fiber production often focuses on standardized products, with high switching costs for customization. The project's modular, digital linkage system allows factories to produce multiple fiber specifications simultaneously, enabling multi-region agile manufacturing. For downstream fabric and garment companies, this means more flexible supply chain responses and shorter delivery cycles.