María José Herrero Villa is educated in business and PhD in Economics and Innovation Management from the Autonomous University of Madrid. Her professional experience began in the private sector, where she acquired a deep understanding of industry factors and dynamics. In 2004, she joined the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M), where she has since held positions in entrepreneurship, innovation, and University-Business Collaboration, and has deep experience in European projects and Madrid Regional program for Liaison Entities.
Currently, she is the Head of Head of Innovation Ecosystem Development Unit at the Support Service for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the UC3M, the technical coordinator of the “Entrepreneurship and Innovation” of the Young University for the Future of Europe (YUFE) Alliance in the frame of the European Universities, reviewer for the Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged University (ACEEU), and member of APTE (Spanish association for Technology and Science Parks), of the FEI (Innovative Business Forum), and since 2025, member of the European Expert Group of HEInnovate an initiative of the European Commission in partnership with the OECD intended to support higher education institutions become more entrepreneurial, innovative, and future-ready.