From January 15 to 17, 2026, the First Forum on the Development of Carbon Fiber and Its Composites Application Technology, guided by the Chinese Society for Composite Materials (CSCM) and hosted by Donghua University as the main organizer, was held in Shanghai. The opening ceremony was attended by Professor Yu Jianyong, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, President of CSCM, and Professor at Donghua University; Chen Yong, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Chief Engineer of the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China; Wang Ye, Deputy District Mayor of the Songjiang District People's Government; and Chen Ge, Vice President of Donghua University. The ceremony was presided over by Bao Jianwen, Deputy Secretary-General of CSCM and Deputy Chief Engineer of the AVIC Manufacturing Technology Institute. The event brought together over 380 experts, scholars, technical core members, and corporate representatives from numerous universities including Harbin Institute of Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, and Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics; relevant institutes of the Academy of Military Science of the CPLA; research institutions such as the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology & Engineering (CAS); as well as leading enterprises and related units across the industrial chain, including China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, AVIC, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd (COMAC), CRRC Group, China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited, and China National Building Material Group Co., Ltd.
In Yu Jianyong’s address, He pointed out that carbon fiber and its composites are key enablers for high-end manufacturing and the development of strategic emerging industries. Although China's industry has achieved a transition from engineering breakthroughs to large-scale application, it still faces challenges such as the stable homogenization of high-end products, cost-effective manufacturing, and material innovation for extreme environments. This forum aims to pool wisdom, deepen fundamental research, expand application boundaries, and build an integrated ecosystem to solve the "last-mile" problem from laboratory to industrialization. He emphasized that the industry should carefully balance the dualities of "preservation and innovation," "breakthrough and construction," and "self-reliance and openness," and uphold the spirit of perseverance to drive industrial progress. He stated that the CSCM will continue to serve as a bridge and link, building a collaborative innovation platform to support the high-quality development of the industry.
During the ceremony, Wang Ye, Deputy District Mayor of Songjiang District remarked that Songjiang, as a key hub underpinning Shanghai’s pursuit of becoming a science and technology innovation center, is actively building itself into a highland for innovation in the new materials industry. The convening of this forum will significantly boost regional technological innovation and industrial chain agglomeration, providing strong impetus for technological breakthroughs and industrial upgrading in the carbon fiber sector. Songjiang looks forward to seeing more innovative achievements transformed and implemented locally, and will continue to foster a world-class innovation ecosystem and industrial development environment. He extended a sincere invitation to global talents and high-quality projects to join hands with Songjiang and build a brighter future together.
Chen Ge stated that Donghua University has accumulated profound expertise in fields such as carbon fiber and its composites, establishing a solid research foundation and distinctive research teams in areas including composite structural design, manufacturing processes, and performance characterization. In 2011, the university established the Collaborative Innovation Center for Civil Aviation Composites at Donghua University, undertaking a number of high-profile research achievements, including national key R&D programs and large aircraft projects. The university is actively building collaborative innovation platforms and establishing joint laboratories and innovation centers with leading industrial enterprises to promote a full-chain innovation model encompassing "fundamental research—application development—industrialization of achievements." In doing so, Donghua University strives to contribute its strength to China's carbon fiber and composite materials industry, supporting its transition from catching up to running alongside global leaders, and ultimately to taking a leading position on the world stage.
The conference covered multiple dimensions of the carbon fiber and its composites industry, including fundamental research, core processes, and major engineering applications. Academician Chen Yong from COMAC delivered a report entitled "Application of Composite Materials in Large Aircraft," elaborating on the pivotal role and challenges of composites in the development of China's large passenger aircraft. Professor Liu Li from Harbin Institute of Technology presented on behalf of her team a report titled "Research on Interface Regulation Technologies for Carbon Fiber Composites," revealing key pathways to enhancing composite performance from a microscopic interface perspective. Researcher Pei Yuchen from the Aerospace Special Materials and Technology Research Institute discussed "Developments and Challenges in Automated Fiber Placement Technology for Composites," analyzing the current application status and future directions of this technology in the aerospace sector. Professor Zhou Huamin from Huazhong University of Science and Technology introduced "Intelligent Technologies for Liquid Molding of Large Composite Components," demonstrating the significant potential of digital and intelligent empowerment in composite manufacturing. The plenary session reports, which combined strategic insight, academic depth, and engineering guidance, provided attendees with rich intellectual inspiration. The plenary session was chaired by Professor Ye Mingxin from Fudan University and Researcher Wang Junshan from the Aerospace Materials and Technology Research Institute.
View of the Plenary Session
Building on the core segments of the industry and current application hotspots, the forum featured five parallel sessions for intensive discussion, covering the critical chain of carbon fiber from basic materials to high-end applications. With over 70 specialized presentations delivered, the sessions fostered lively on-site exchanges, showcasing the latest research advancements and engineering practices across various fields while promoting cross-disciplinary and cross-segment technological integration and collaborative innovation. This fully reflected the deep integration and ecosystem building across fundamental research, process development, and engineering applications within the carbon fiber and its composites industry.
Scenes from Parallel Sessions
After the meeting, some of the delegates visited Sinopec Sino-Eagle (Shanghai) Technology Co., Ltd. for a technical tour and exchange.
