Paul Markillie

Paul Markillie is Innovation Editor at The Economist, and editor of its Technology Quarterly magazine. He was previously a features editor and has written about a number of business subjects, covering both the aerospace and automotive industries. Paul was also the Economist’s first Asian business correspondent, based in Hong Kong, from where he covered China and the region’s emerging markets. In 2012, he wrote The Economist‘s special report “The Third Industrial Revolution”, which attracted worldwide interest.

Paul’s current focus is on new technologies and their implications in business. He visited many companies and research organisations around the world for his highly acclaimed special report “The Third Industrial Revolution” (April 2012). This described how digitization is set to radically alter global manufacturing, supply chains and labor markets with advances in areas such as robotics, materials and additive manufacturing (also known as “3D printing”). Paul also notes that as manufacturing goes digital, it will change beyond of all recognition, while moving manufacturing back from countries like China to the rich countries where the consumers live.

Paul has an encyclopedic knowledge of how these disruptive technologies are affecting sectors as diverse as aerospace, automobile and medicine. Having discussed these developments with everyone from leaders of multinational corporations to CEOs of start-ups, he also has an insider’s view of the personalities behind these dramatic changes.