1958
The Chemical Industry's Southwest Research & Design Institute is established under Ministry of Chemical Industry auspices, in September, at 8 Zhongxi Shuncheng St, Chengdu, Sichuan province, to do research on the comprehensive utilization of natural gas chemicals.
1961
Ministry of Chemical Industry starts a key national technology R&D program in May for a "technological revolution in the synthesis of chloroprene rubber" and arranges for 13 scientific research institutes and universities, including SWRDICI, to deal with key problems at the Changshou Chemical Factory. The project eventually earns 16 awards.
1963
NPC Chairman Zhu De visits the institute, on March 29, and advises, "Master the latest technologiy for the utilization of natural gas and work for the socialist development of China."
1972
The institute takes the lead nationally in research on PSA gas separation and purification technology, ultimately winning first prize for its S&T progress in 1984 and 1998.
A low-pressure, carbonyl synthesis of acetic acid from methanol project that began at SWRDICI takes the lead nationally in lab research and is listed as a key national project by the State Commission of Science and Technology in 1973, ultimately becoming patented technology in 1992.
1976
SWRDICI publishes the first issue of Natural Gas Chemical Industry.
1978
Work on a low-pressure methanol catalyst and copper-base catalyst project begins and, in the 1980s, SWRDICI takes the lead nationally in developing 1st generation low-pressure methanol synthesis catalyst C302 with Cu-Zn-Al as key active components; and, by 1992, a CNJ-206 catalyst for methanol preparation from rich CO2 synthesis gas is developed; and, by 1998, a new-generation of methanol catalyst XNC-98.
1983
SWRDICI leads a group of Chinese organizations in a key national technology R&D program under the 6th Five-Year Plan, under the title R&D for mass production of methanol from synthesis gas made from coal; by the mid-90s, SWRDICI is involved in a key national technology R&D program under the 8th Five-Year Plan, under the title industrial enlargement of low-pressure methanol synthesis reactor and development of a software package for low-pressure methanol synthesis and rectification process; by 1994, SWRDICI provides technology and engineering design for China's first industrial unit for methanol production from natural gas (30kt/a) in Yulin, Shaanxi province.
1985
The institute's 4-tower, one-time equalizing process for recovering hydrogen from synthesis ammonia purge gas by PSA method gets a first prize nationally for S&T progress.
1987
In October, using the institute's PSA concentration technology, the Henan Jiaozuo Mining Bureau builds an industrial concentration unit for treating 500m3/h of CBM; and, by enriching methane gas in coal mines through pressure swing absorption methods, the institute gets its first patent from the State Intellectual Property Office.
1990
A 2KTA industrial unit for preparation of DMF through dehydration and amination of methanol, using the institute's technology, completes its first test run at the Wujin Chemical Fertilizer Factory, in Jiangsu province and is China's first unit for industrial production of DMF through dehydration and amination of methanol.
SWRDICI builds China's first industrial unit for purifying hydrogen from coke oven gas by PSA, at the Wuhan Iron and Steel (Group) Corp, and it gains Ministry of Metallurgical Industry approval.
1993
The State Commission of Science and Technology gives its approval for a National Center of C1 Chemical Engineering Research, based at the institute, in May.
1994
The 60,000Nm3/h, 10-bed vacuum PSA hydrogen production technology developed by SWRDICI is transferred to the Zhejiang Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Co, Ltd. and is used for changing a hydrogenation unit, as a symbolic development of large-scale PSA technology and thereby halting the monopoly on large-scale PSA technology held by foreign companies.
1995
The State Science and Technology Commission designates SWRDICI a National Center for Research and Promotion of PSA Engineering Technology, in May.
1996
The State Science and Technology Commission approves a National Center of C1 Chemical Engineering Research, at SWRDICI and presents an official plaque, in April.
1998
Research on the popularization and application of PSA separation technology takes first prize for S&T progress in December.
1999
SWRDICI is changed from a research institute to a technology enterprise, in July, and the Chemical Industry's Southwest Research & Design Institute, under Ministry of Chemical Industry auspices, is renamed the Chemical Industry's Southwest Research & Design Institute, on July 1, and is registered in the Chengdu Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone, affiliated with the China Haohua Chemical Industrial (Group) Corp, in accordance with the Circular on Issuing the Plan for Reform of the Management System of the Scientific Research Institutes Affiliated with the 10 State Bureaus of the State Economic and Trade Commission, and the Reply for Approval of Name Change of the Chemical Industry's Southwest Research & Design Institute under Ministry of Chemical Industry auspices.
SWRDICI enters the market, adopts independent management, and assumes sole responsibility for profits and losses.
The institute is approved as a high-tech enterprise outside national high-tech industrial development zones of Sichuan after gaining Sichuan Provincial Commission of Science and Technology recognition and has gained accreditation for 13 years in a row.
2002
The Ministry of Construction regulates company business scope through Class A and Class B Engineering Design certificates, in May, as follows: Class A for the deep processing of petroleum products and organic chemicals in the chemical, petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries; and Class B for inorganic chemicals and synthetic materials for the chemical, petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries.
2003
The Sichuan Tianyi Science & Technology Co, Ltd, established by SWRDICI (55.5 percent of equity) in Aug 1999 and was listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange on Jan 11, 2001.
2004
The Chemical Industry's Southwest Research & Design Institute gets its Compilation of Management Systems.
2005
A 200KTA acetic-acid industrial unit built by the Shandong Yankuang Group using the institute's patented technology, starts production in June; and, in Nov, the Yankuang Group holds a completion and production ceremony for the unit, which is a sign of the industrialization of the institute's technology for carbonyl synthesis of acetic acid.
2006
SWRDICI gathers 12 scientific research institutes and universities -- including the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Organic Chemistry in Chengdu, and the East China University of Science and Technology – to apply for a key National Science and Technology Support Program of the "11th Five-Year Plan" project for the development of key technologies for preparing bulk chemicals through a non-petroleum line. The project has five tasks and 21 components and is the institute's largest project.
2008
SWRDICI and a member of the Global 500, the US' Celanese, sign an agreement on Feb 25 for exclusive patent licensing and technical cooperation, in a move that will improve R&D for both of the companies.
2009
SWRDICI and the China Haohua Chemical Industrial (Group) Corp establish the Haohua (Chengdu) Science and Technology Co, Ltd in Jan at the Xinjin High-tech Industrial Base, which uses advanced technology in the fields as environmental protection and new energies, and establishes a high-tech pilot plant, a verification platform, an achievement application demonstration platform, and a high-tech industrial demonstration base, which raises the competence and development strength of SWRDICI.
One of the institute's patented inventions, the method for the production of dimethyl ether from methanol, wins an "excellence" award at the 11th China Patent Awards.
2010
An ethylene deoxidation catalyst developed by SWRDICI succeeds in its first test at a 32,000m3/h unit for recovering concentrated ethylene from dry gas at the Sinopec Maoming Co, and is the first industrial application of this catalyst, a symbol of the increased scope of applications.
Gu Xiulian, chairwoman of the 10th NPC, visits SWRDICI and advises, "Stick to innovations and scale new heights."
An institute catalyst for the production of dimethyl ether through methanol dehydration gets key national new product certification in June, and, on July 23, a laboratory for the comprehensive utilization of industrial vent gas is established as one of the enterprise's key national labs from the first group to get acceptance under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
On July 19, thanks to its advantages in technology, services, and other areas, SWRDICI wins its bid for a 238KTA PMC project for producing LNG through the methanation of coke oven gas, in the city of Wuhai, for CNPC's China Natural Gas Corp Ltd, another symbol that SWRDICI had turned a new page; it is also added to the second list of national model enterprises and public institutions for the creation of intellectual property and the fourth list of national innovation-based pilot enterprises, which demonstrates its marked improvement in the creation, application, and protection of intellectual property, and innovations in science and technology.
2011
The National Science and Technology Support Program, a part of the 11th Five-Year Plan, for the development of key technologies for preparing bulk chemicals through a non-petroleum line begins in Jan, with 12 scientific research institutes and universities, and is examined by a panel of experts arranged by the Ministry of Science and Technology in Beijing; SWRDICI takes on two research tasks and nine subprojects and develops 10 unit technologies and applies for 28 patents. and strengthens project management, improves scientific research equipment, develops high-tech talented personnel, and promotes teamwork.
The National Center of C1 Chemical Engineering Research at SWRDICI wins an excellent team for executing national science and technology program award as part of the 11th Five-Year Plan, in Feb, at the 2011 national work conference.
SWRDICI and the Shanxi Guoxin Loujun New Energy Co, Ltd sign a contract in March for the transfer of technology for the 50,000Nm3/h production of synthetic natural gas from coke oven gas, as a sign of the company's progress; the Shanxi government calls it a model industrial unit.
A Chemical Invention Examination Department expert, from the SIPO Office visits the institute in Nov to examine its patents, five of which pass, marking the first time for SIPO to visit a grassroots organization to examine its patents on site.