The first prize of the 2025 National Science and Technology Progress Award has been awarded to a project directly related to the textile industry: 'Key Technologies for Green and Intelligent Manufacturing in the Polyester Fiber Chain.' This is not an isolated laboratory achievement but a signal that the entire chemical fiber sector is shifting from scale expansion to quality-driven development. The winning project was co-led by the National Innovation Center for Advanced Functional Fiber (NIC), initiated by Shenghong Holding Group.
Event Background
The award's significance lies in its response to two major pain points in China's polyester fiber industry: the need for self-controllable key technologies and the green transformation under the 'dual carbon' goals. Polyester fiber accounts for over 80% of China's chemical fiber output, yet gaps remained in high-end products and smart manufacturing standards. This project addresses these gaps by building a self-controllable advanced manufacturing system.
The NIC's role is not merely technical R&D but also establishing the data infrastructure and standard systems. This means the project's outcomes are not confined to the lab but have been transformed into replicable industry standards, directly influencing the procurement logic of downstream fabric and apparel companies.
Notably, this honor is not an isolated event in Suzhou. The city is accelerating the transition from traditional manufacturing to new growth drivers, with textiles and chemical fibers being key sectors for transformation. Leading enterprises like Shenghong have increased investment in innovation platforms, including the NIC, an advanced materials research institute, and a petrochemical innovation center, forming a complete chain from basic research to industrialization.
Industry Impact
For the textile industry, this award's demonstrative significance goes beyond the honor itself. It means the competitive dimension in chemical fibers is shifting from production capacity to technological density. Previously, buyers chose suppliers based on price and volume; in the future, the ability to offer green products with intelligent traceability will become a new dividing line.
Specifically, the implementation of green and intelligent technologies in the polyester chain will bring three levels of change. First, reduced energy consumption and emissions in production directly respond to 'dual carbon' constraints, helping exporters avoid carbon tariff risks. Second, intelligent upgrades improve yield rates and flexible production capabilities, enabling small-batch, multi-variety orders—crucial for fast fashion supply chains. Third, the data infrastructure and standard support enable data interoperability across the chain, facilitating full traceability from raw materials to garments and enhancing international buyers' trust in Chinese supply chains.
For the Suzhou and Yangtze River Delta textile industry belts, this award will accelerate the aggregation of regional innovation resources. The model of leading enterprises taking the lead, national platforms providing support, and SMEs participating is reshaping industry cluster collaboration. Small and medium textile enterprises do not need to build their own research institutes but can access public service platforms under the NIC to obtain technical diagnosis and standard certification support, lowering their transformation threshold.