A key piece of data from the 2025 National Science and Technology Awards Conference has drawn industry attention: the First Prize in the National Science and Technology Progress Award was awarded to the project 'Key Technologies for Green and Intelligent Manufacturing of Polyester Fiber Industry Chain', led by Tongkun Group in collaboration with Donghua University and nine other institutions. This marks the first time the award has been granted to the textile sector since the carbon fiber project in 2017, signifying a milestone in achieving independent control over the entire industrial chain of polyester fiber, often called the 'industrial staple'.
Industry Impact
Polyester fiber accounts for the largest share of China's chemical fiber output, and its industrial upgrading directly affects the cost and quality of downstream fabrics, garments, and home textiles. The award-winning project, developed over a decade of collaborative research, focuses on three core breakthroughs: green manufacturing, with a novel direct-to-PET low-carbon production model and eco-friendly titanium-based catalysts replacing traditional heavy metal ones; intelligent manufacturing, with full automation and domestic substitution of DCS control systems, significantly reducing energy consumption and defect rates; and service-oriented manufacturing, using a 'multi-head, multi-tail' polymerization platform for modular customization and multi-region agile production.
Data shows the project has been deployed in industrial bases in Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Xinjiang, generating over 200 billion yuan in new sales, 10 billion yuan in profit and tax, and $1.8 billion in export earnings. For fabric mills and garment companies sourcing polyester fiber, this means more stable and cost-competitive supply, especially in markets like Europe and the US with stringent green standards. Suppliers adopting these technologies will gain a competitive edge.
Event Background
This award is not an isolated event. Historical data from the National Science and Technology Awards shows that between 2012 and 2020, the textile sector received 28 awards, covering specialty fibers, smart equipment, and green dyeing. Previous first prizes, such as the carbon fiber project by Zhongfu Shenying (2017) and the digital dyeing project by Kangpingna (2014), focused on individual materials or processes. This project, however, covers the entire polyester fiber chain from polymerization to spinning and texturing, reflecting a systemic upgrade in industrial innovation.
Meanwhile, Professor Elsa Reichmanis, an American academician and international cooperation advisor at Donghua University's State Key Laboratory, received the International Science and Technology Cooperation Award. She has promoted US-China tech exchanges since 2013, collaborating on talent training and publications. This award underscores China's strategy to boost global influence in textile innovation through open cooperation, particularly in advanced fiber materials where foreign expertise helps overcome critical bottlenecks.
Practical Suggestions
For Buyers - Monitor new polyester fiber products from Tongkun Group and other award winners; their green and low-carbon metrics may outperform competitors, aiding compliance with downstream brand audits. - Include technical compliance clauses in procurement contracts, prioritizing suppliers using closed-loop production and titanium-based catalysts to reduce future carbon tariff risks. - Leverage the 'multi-head, multi-tail' customization model to negotiate small-batch, multi-variety orders with upstream manufacturers, reducing inventory pressure.
For Exporters - Attach carbon footprint reports based on the award-winning technology system when exporting fabrics or garments, as a differentiator for European and American clients. - Monitor capacity expansion in Xinjiang and other project promotion areas, which may offer cost advantages for supply chain diversification. - Establish technical links with Donghua University and other research bodies to develop functional polyester fiber products, boosting export value.
Overall, this award not only validates a decade of industry-academia collaboration but also signals an acceleration of the polyester fiber chain toward green, intelligent, and high-end transformation. For the broader textile industry, upstream competition will shift from price wars to technology wars, and companies that integrate these innovations early will secure stronger positions in global markets.