More than 300 Industry professionals including scientists, technologists and entrepreneurs gathered in Jinan, China from July 25 to 26 for the 16th National Leather Science and Technology Conference and the 27th Annual Meeting of the China Leather Science and Technology Commission of the China Leather Industry Association (CLIA).
The conference was hosted by the Faculty of Light Industry of Qilu University of Technology and jointly organised by the China Leather Science and Technology Commission of CLIA, the China Leather Chemical Commission of CLIA and the Fine Chemical Committee of the Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China.
This year’s conference focused on “Digitalization Quality Green Development and Innovation: A Low-Carbon Path to the Future” and brought together participants from universities, research institutes and companies across the leather industry.
The programme included 4 opening speeches 6 keynote presentations 32 oral presentations and 92 poster papers covering recent research and technological developments in leather science and technology.
The discussions covered a wide range of topics including green tanning technologies, intelligent manufacturing, leather chemicals, collagen-based functional materials, analytical and testing technologies, industry standards, pollution control and solid waste utilisation.
Researchers and industry experts also discussed innovative leather product design and technologies aimed at improving the sustainability and quality of the leather industry.
The presentations covered both fundamental research and industrial applications with discussions ranging from laboratory research and development to commercialisation and industrial production.
6 experts delivered keynote presentations covering topics such as green and high-quality development of the tanning industry, economic performance of the leather industry, advanced functional leather materials and functionalisation of hide and leather coatings.
Other presentations looked at the restoration and conservation of leather cultural relics and the high-value non-tanning utilisation of raw hides and skins through textile collagen fibres.
The conference also featured presentations from 32 experts and researchers from universities including Sichuan University Xi’an Jiaotong University and Shaanxi University of Science & Technology as well as companies including Bader Leather Co Ltd and Qihe Lihou Chemical Co Ltd.
Discussions also focused on areas including energy conservation and carbon reduction AI-enabled technologies functional materials and new application opportunities for leather.
The conference brought together researchers and companies across different parts of the leather value chain with participants discussing ways to strengthen cooperation between industry academia and research institutions.
At the closing ceremony on July 26 Chen Zhanguang said the conference had addressed challenges and bottlenecks facing the industry and generated ideas ranging from bio-based materials and functional materials to energy conservation, carbon reduction and AI-enabled technologies.
He also highlighted the importance of stronger cooperation across the upstream and downstream parts of the leather industry.
