In the 2025 National Science and Technology Awards, a project from the textile chemical fiber sector stood out: 'Key Technologies for Green and Intelligent Manufacturing of Polyester Fiber Industry Chain', led by Tongkun Group with Donghua University and Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, won the first prize. This is the highest honor for general fiber full-chain technology, signaling China's polyester fiber industry's shift from scale leadership to technology leadership.
Technical Breakthroughs: Three Innovations Reshaping Industry Logic
Polyester fiber is the 'staple food' of the textile industry, with China producing 70% of global chemical fiber. The project, led by Donghua researcher Wang Huaping and involving Academician Zhu Meifang's team, achieved core breakthroughs in three dimensions after over a decade of collaborative research.
In green manufacturing, the project pioneered a PTA-PET direct coupling low-carbon manufacturing model, developed environmentally friendly titanium-based catalysts, and invented crude oil-based fiber oils and green oiling technology. This significantly reduces carbon emissions across the entire process, providing a quantifiable path for the industry to meet carbon neutrality goals.
In intelligent manufacturing, the project completed full-process automation equipment upgrades, achieved large-scale domestic replacement of DCS control systems, and established an integrated quality control system. For downstream buyers, this means significantly improved product batch stability and reduced quality fluctuation risks.
In service-oriented manufacturing, the project created a 'multi-head multi-tail' series-parallel composite polymerization technology platform, enabling modular digital linkage of polymerization, spinning, and texturing processes. This makes customized production of differentiated polyester fibers possible, allowing factories to quickly switch product specifications based on customer needs.
Industrial Implementation: 200 Billion Yuan Sales and Industry Impact
According to industry public data, the project's results have been implemented in over ten units across Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Xinjiang industrial bases, generating cumulative new sales of over 200 billion yuan, profits and taxes exceeding 10 billion yuan, and export earnings of 1.8 billion USD. These figures are accompanied by significant reductions in industry energy consumption and defect rates.
For enterprises in the polyester fiber chain, this means green transformation is no longer a cost burden but a profit engine. The use of environmentally friendly titanium catalysts reduces environmental risks and raw material costs. Intelligent upgrades decrease labor needs and increase efficiency, directly boosting competitiveness amid rising labor costs.
Notably, the project has formed a complete independent intellectual property system including 76 authorized invention patents, 10 software copyrights, and 14 national and industry standards. This means domestic enterprises can use related technologies without paying high foreign patent fees, significantly enhancing industrial chain autonomy.
International Perspective: A New Note in US-China Tech Cooperation
Professor Elsa Reichmanis, Chair of the International Advisory Committee of Donghua University's State Key Laboratory for Advanced Fiber Materials, received the International Science and Technology Cooperation Award. A three-academy member, she has collaborated with Donghua since 2013, cultivating national-level talents and elevating the International Conference on Advanced Fiber and Polymer Materials into the world's largest fiber academic event.
Her award reflects China's open approach in textile technology. While China has become a leader in general fibers, international collaboration remains crucial for breakthroughs in high-end and specialty fibers.