2025 CSMA Science and Technology Work Conference Successfully Held

On December 18, the Science and Technology Work Conference of the China Sewing Machinery Association (CSMA) was convened in Taizhou, Zhejiang Province. At the meeting, the 9th Science and Technology Work Committee of CSMA (hereinafter referred to as the “S&T Committee”) was elected, and in-depth discussions were held on the industry’s science and technology development plan for the 15th Five-Year Plan period, key tasks, and the main work of the new S&T Committee. The conference was attended by Yang Xiaojing, Chairman of CSMA; Chen Ji, Vice Chairman and Secretary General; Wu Jiling, Vice Chairman; Lin Jianlong, Chief Supervisor of CSMA; Du Yanbing, Vice Chairman of the China National Garment Association; Wu Guodong, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of the China National Furniture Association; members of the CSMA Science and Technology Work Committee; and representatives from enterprises, totaling more than 50 participants. The meeting was chaired by Xu Dong, Deputy Secretary General of CSMA.

The meeting heard a work report delivered by Chen Ji on behalf of the 8th S&T Committee. Since its establishment, under the leadership of the Association, the 8th S&T Committee actively carried out technology research and surveys, participated in industry planning, organized theoretical studies, promoted scientific research and innovation, convened technology forums, strengthened industry exchanges, explored market demand, enhanced industrial collaboration, coordinated intellectual property issues, optimized the industry development environment, and selected advanced technological achievements while strengthening incentives for innovation. These efforts effectively promoted technological progress across the industry.

Based on the recommendations of CSMA, the meeting elected the leadership of the new S&T Committee. Yang Xiaojing, Chairman of CSMA, was elected Director of the 9th S&T Committee; Chen Ji, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of CSMA; Fang Haixiang, Vice President of Shanggong Group Co., Ltd.; and Hu Wenhai, President of the Product Group of Jack Technology Co., Ltd., were elected Deputy Directors. Upon nomination by Director Yang Xiaojing, Lin Jianlong and Wu Jianmin were appointed as Advisors to the S&T Committee, and Xu Dong, Deputy Secretary General of CSMA, was appointed Director of the S&T Committee Office. Appointment certificates were presented to the new leadership team by Yang Xiaojing.

During the meeting, participants engaged in in-depth discussions on key technological breakthroughs, talent development, the deep integration of frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics with the industry, and collaborative innovation along the industrial chain. Representatives from downstream application sectors, including garments and furniture, also shared insights from the demand side, outlining current development trends and expressing strong demand for intelligent, customized, and unmanned sewing equipment. They pointed out that domestic equipment still has shortcomings in areas such as product stability and completeness of data acquisition, and emphasized that downstream enterprises now place greater importance on overall quality and long-term operational stability than on price alone. The discussions were candid, substantive, and highly productive, helping to build important consensus for industrial upgrading.

In his concluding remarks, Chairman Yang Xiaojing first extended warm congratulations to the newly elected leadership of the 9th S&T Committee, and expressed sincere appreciation to all committee members, delegates, and the experts and science and technology professionals who have long been working on the front lines of industry innovation. He further summarized the significant achievements of the 8th S&T Committee, fully affirming its important role in improving the industry’s science and technology system, increasing R&D investment, delivering fruitful innovation outcomes, strengthening the science and technology talent pool, and deepening technology-related work, which provided critical support for the effective implementation of the industry’s “14th Five-Year Plan” technology roadmap.

With regard to industry science and technology work during the “15th Five-Year Plan” period and the work of the 9th S&T Committee, Chairman Yang put forward six key points:

First, strengthen top-level design to serve national strategies. The national “15th Five-Year Plan” places strong emphasis on technological innovation and self-reliance. CSMA is leading the formulation of the industry’s “15th Five-Year Plan” and technology roadmap, and promoting the establishment of an innovation system integrating industry, academia, research, and application. Core enterprises are encouraged to align national strategies with industry planning and their own development, jointly building a forward-looking modern industrial science and technology system.

Second, adhere to a demand-oriented approach and enhance service responsiveness. Scientific and technological innovation should be rooted in user needs at the front lines, with precise identification and effective resolution of core pain points and practical challenges. In particular, under the new “dual circulation” development paradigm, greater efforts should be made to meet diversified and multi-dimensional demands through targeted innovation throughout the entire product lifecycle, from design and R&D to iteration and upgrading.

Third, embrace the digital economy and strengthen development momentum. Efforts should be accelerated in the research and integrated application of advanced technologies, promoting the upgrading of sewing machinery toward high-end development characterized by green intelligence, network connectivity, and integrated solutions. Greater emphasis should be placed on understanding and mastering emerging forces such as artificial intelligence, human–machine interaction, network communications, the Internet of Things, big data, and cloud computing, overcoming the core barriers of “computing power–algorithms–data,” and continuously expanding competitive advantages in intelligent units, smart production lines, smart workshops, and smart factories.

Fourth, expand application scenarios and innovate service models. The industry should proactively align with emerging national industries and open up new fields and development tracks. It should accelerate the development of digital solutions and the widespread application of full-process intelligent manufacturing technologies and equipment, establish new intelligent collaborative sewing models integrating sewing equipment and AI technologies, and speed up the transformation from manufacturing-oriented to service-oriented manufacturing, with service-oriented manufacturing revenue accounting for more than 30 percent of total operating income. At the same time, efforts should be intensified to accelerate the commercialization and industrialization of scientific and technological achievements, and to build new industrial technology advantages with independent intellectual property rights and core technologies.

Fifth, accelerate talent cultivation to consolidate the foundation for development. As the main implementers of science and technology work, enterprises should further improve systems for talent recruitment, training, and management, pool advantageous resources, and attract new scientific and technological talent across the industrial chain through multiple channels and dimensions. It is essential to strengthen the cultivation of high-level and urgently needed talent, including industry science and technology leaders, young scientific researchers, and reserve talent, promote the integration of the industrial chain, innovation chain, and talent chain, and stimulate innovation vitality and creativity.

Sixth, leverage platform roles to support industry advancement. The members of the new S&T Committee include experts and researchers from all key segments of the industrial chain, with a well-structured, broadly representative, and dynamic composition. It is hoped that all members will give full play to their respective strengths, assume their historical responsibilities and industry mandates at this new stage of industry and enterprise development, and effectively advance all science and technology tasks under the industry’s “15th Five-Year Plan.” CSMA and its S&T Committee will further unite the industry’s scientific and technological forces, providing a strong platform to support technological progress and the growth and entrepreneurship of science and technology talent.