A major national science award is reshaping the technology landscape of the textile chemical fiber industry. The 2025 National Science and Technology Progress Award First Prize was won by a project led by Tongkun Group, in collaboration with Donghua University, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, and seven other institutions. The project, titled 'Key Technologies for Green and Smart Manufacturing in the Polyester Fiber Industry Chain,' marks a shift from single-point breakthroughs to full-chain system integration, from scale advantage to technology leadership.
Background
Polyester fiber, the 'industrial staple' of textiles, accounts for the largest share of China's chemical fiber output, with about 70% of global production coming from China. However, long-standing issues of being 'large but not strong' have left gaps in green and smart manufacturing. This award-winning project, led by Professor Wang Huaping of Donghua University and with deep involvement from academician Zhu Meifang, targeted these pain points through over a decade of collaborative research. It built an autonomous advanced manufacturing system addressing strategic needs for industrial chain security and international competition.
Technologically, the project achieved breakthroughs in three dimensions: green manufacturing (creating a direct PTA-PET coupling low-carbon model and developing eco-friendly titanium catalysts), smart manufacturing (achieving full-process automation and domestic replacement of DCS control systems), and service-oriented manufacturing (pioneering a 'multiple-head, multiple-tail' series-parallel composite polymerization platform for customized production). To date, the project has generated 76 authorized invention patents, 10 software copyrights, and 14 national and industry standards, with the overall technology rated at an internationally leading level.
Industry Impact
This technology system is reshaping the competitive landscape. According to industry data, the results have been applied in industrial bases in Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Xinjiang, and in over 10 enterprises, generating cumulative new sales of over 200 billion yuan, profits and taxes of over 10 billion yuan, and export earnings of $1.8 billion. For buyers, this means improved product stability and green attributes, aiding downstream supply chain carbon management. For factories, reduced energy consumption and defect rates from smart upgrades directly enhance cost competitiveness.
This award is not an isolated event. Between 2012 and 2020, the textile sector won 28 national science awards, including 22 for technological progress, covering specialty fibers, smart equipment, green dyeing, and industrial textiles. Previous first prizes included carbon fiber projects in 2017 and digital dyeing in 2014. This polyester fiber project, however, signals a new phase of technological autonomy in general fibers, directly impacting land-use conflicts, industrial relocation risks, and carbon neutrality goals.
Simultaneously, 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 U.S. academician, she has collaborated with Donghua since 2013, fostering talent and global influence. These dual awards highlight a 'independent innovation + international collaboration' model taking shape.
Practical Recommendations
For Buyers - Prioritize suppliers using the awarded technology (e.g., Tongkun Group) for verifiable advantages in carbon footprint and quality consistency. - Seek opportunities to source fibers made with eco-friendly titanium catalysts and crude-oil-based finishes, which better meet brand environmental compliance. - Leverage the flexible 'multiple-head, multiple-tail' platform to request customized products, reducing inventory and modification costs.
For Chemical Fiber Plants - Assess compatibility of existing production lines with domestic DCS replacement solutions from the project, focusing pilot upgrades on energy management. - Explore licensing or partnership opportunities for the direct PTA-PET coupling low-carbon model, which can significantly shorten processes and cut emissions. - Follow Tongkun's example as a 'National Service-oriented Manufacturing Demonstration Enterprise' and shift from selling fiber to offering 'product plus process optimization services.'
A turning point in industry structure often hides within a major award. For every player in the polyester fiber value chain, understanding this technology system and its deployment path is no longer an option but a necessity for survival and growth.