China produces 70% of the world's chemical fibers, with polyester fiber consistently ranking first in output. However, this 'industrial staple' has long suffered from high energy consumption, low automation, and limited differentiation. The 2025 National Science and Technology Progress Award First Prize offers a systemic answer: a project led by Tongkun Group, in collaboration with Donghua University and Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, achieved a breakthrough in green and smart manufacturing across the entire polyester fiber supply chain after over a decade of research.
Technological Breakthroughs: From Single-Point Innovation to Full-Chain Restructuring
This project covers three dimensions: green manufacturing, smart manufacturing, and service-oriented manufacturing. On the green front, the team pioneered a PTA-PET direct-coupled low-carbon model, developed eco-friendly titanium-based catalysts to replace traditional antimony-based ones, and established full-lifecycle green standards. This could significantly reduce carbon emissions and heavy metal pollution in polyester production. On the smart side, the project upgraded full-process automation equipment, achieved domestic replacement of DCS control systems, and integrated process and quality management into a unified system. This directly addresses the pain points of foreign control system dependence and data silos in chemical fiber plants. For service-oriented manufacturing, the 'multi-head, multi-tail' series-parallel composite polymerization platform enables modular customization of differentiated products and collaborative production across regions. This breaks the rigid 'large and comprehensive' production model of traditional fiber companies, shifting to a flexible, agile manufacturing system.
Industrial Impact: Billion-Yuan Benefits and Demonstration Effects
To date, the technology has been applied in industrial bases in Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Xinjiang, and in over ten enterprises. It has generated over 200 billion yuan in new sales, over 10 billion yuan in profits and taxes, and $1.8 billion in export earnings. More notably, the project has significantly reduced industry energy consumption and defect rates. The lead company, Tongkun Group, was selected as a national 'Zero-Waste Enterprise' case and recognized as a 'National Service-Oriented Manufacturing Demonstration Enterprise' and 'National Excellent Smart Manufacturing Demonstration Factory.' This sends a clear signal: green and smart manufacturing are no longer cost burdens but quantifiable sources of competitiveness. For downstream buyers, this means improved stability, supply flexibility, and environmental compliance of polyester products. The 'multi-head, multi-tail' platform's small-batch, multi-variety customization capability will alleviate the long-standing 'inventory and adjustment' challenges for fabric mills.
International Perspective: Dual Dimensions of Cooperation and Competition
At the same ceremony, Professor Elsa Reichmanis, Chair of the International Advisory Committee of Donghua University's State Key Laboratory for Advanced Fiber Materials, received the中华人民共和国 International Science and Technology Cooperation Award. A three-academy member in the US, she has deeply engaged with Donghua since 2013, co-training multiple national talent program awardees and elevating the International Conference on Advanced Fiber and Polymer Materials into the world's largest fiber academic event. This award reflects the deep integration of China's textile industry with international top-tier research in basic science. While China has transitioned from a technology follower to a rule-setter in bulk categories like polyester, international cooperation remains an indispensable accelerator for high-end fibers and frontier materials.