A full-chain technology research system covering everything from precursor to carbon fiber equipment and composite materials is taking shape in Shaoxing, Zhejiang. On May 9, 2026, a technical symposium on the High-Performance Carbon Fiber Equipment and Composite Materials Manufacturing Innovation Center was held locally, gathering over 40 representatives from research institutes such as Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University, and Harbin Institute of Technology, as well as leading enterprises in the industry chain, for in-depth discussions on the center's creation plan and technology roadmap.
Background
Led by Jinko Technology, the symposium was supported by the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology, the Shaoxing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology, and the Keqiao District Government. Attendees included academicians Chen Wenxing, Li Hejun (online), foreign academician Zhang Jiujun, Professor Xu Lianghua from Beijing University of Chemical Technology, and Jinko Technology Chairman Sun Guojun and President Li Aijun. The core agenda was to promote the center's bid to become a national-level platform, the first in the carbon fiber field to cover the entire chain from precursor, carbonization, equipment manufacturing, to product application.
As 2026 marks the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan, high-performance carbon fiber and composites are positioned as key materials supporting strategic emerging industries such as aerospace, rail transit, new energy, and embodied intelligent agents. Public industry data shows that while China's carbon fiber capacity ranks among the top globally, bottlenecks remain in high-end products, key equipment, and precursor consistency. The establishment of this innovation center directly addresses these supply chain security pain points.
Industry Impact
For downstream buyers, this platform signals structural changes in the carbon fiber supply chain. Historically, high-end carbon fiber products relied heavily on imports or a few leading suppliers, leading to price volatility and long lead times. Once the full-chain collaborative platform is operational, it will accelerate domestic substitution, particularly for fields like aerospace and new energy vehicle lightweight components, potentially reducing procurement costs by over 30%.
For the textile and chemical fiber industry, although carbon fiber falls under high-performance fibers, its precursor technology and carbonization processes overlap with conventional chemical fiber production. Shaoxing, as a major textile hub, with Keqiao District's strong textile base, benefits directly from this center, driving local chemical fiber enterprises to upgrade to high-end fibers, forming a gradient product structure from ordinary polyester and nylon to high-performance carbon fiber.
Furthermore, the symposium clarified that the innovation center will focus on six core directions, including green recycling and autonomous control technologies. This means energy consumption and environmental issues in carbon fiber production will be systematically addressed, aligning with the global green transformation trend in the textile and chemical fiber industry. For foreign trade enterprises, domestically produced carbon fiber products meeting international environmental standards will gain greater export competitiveness.