Download CV

Sylvia
Villarreal

Industrial Engineer | Master of Industrial

Engineering | Academic Leader

Consultant | Research Associate

I am passionate about innovation, knowledge management, and shaping the next generation of professionals. As an Industrial Engineer with a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering, I currently lead the Industrial Engineering Program at Unidades Tecnológicas de Santander. In addition to my academic leadership, I serve as a Market Valuation Consultant and Research Associate. My purpose is to integrate strategy, technology, and education to generate value, anticipate trends, and continuously grow through every challenge.

Contact Me

About Me

My story

I am the Academic Leader of the largest Industrial Engineering program in Santander, at Unidades Tecnológicas de Santander, where I coordinate 35 professors, 7 staff members, and guide the development of more than 2,700 students. My path here was built through years of teaching, research, and consulting for technology-driven companies, specializing in market exploration, financial valuation, and innovation strategies.

Recognized as a Research Associate by MinCiencias, I have dedicated my career to bridging academia, industry, and society to foster innovation. Along the way, I have published 1 book, 5 research papers (3 in Q2 journals), and 8 book chapters; presented in over 25 national and international conferences; supervised more than 55 theses; and led several patent transfer processes that turned research into market solutions.

My journey began early: graduating cum laude as an Industrial Engineer at 21, completing a master’s in Industrial Engineering at 23, and later leading the GIGIA Research Group1—rated “A” by MinCiencias, one of Colombia’s highest research categories. These milestones shaped my conviction that research must go beyond theory to create tangible impact.
For me, innovation is about connecting knowledge with practice to create value, transform ideas into opportunities, and design the future. Every project is an opportunity to anticipate what’s next and leave a meaningful mark.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Lead a team of 35 professors and 7 administrative and laboratory staff.                          • Responsible for an academic program that generates over USD 2.5 million annually.
• Head of the largest Industrial Engineering program in Santander, with 2,788 students enrolled.

Awards: Cum Laude (2016) and Academic Excellence (4 semesters from June 2014 to June 2015), Teaching Excellence Award – UTS (2023).

Scholarships: Three scholarships – 3 semesters (from August 2016 to February 2018)

Lenguages: English B2 – IELTS 6,5 (overall band)

Software: Illustrator, Canva, Flexsim, SPSS, Nvivo, AutoCAD, MS.

 Research profile:  https://scienti.minciencias.gov.co/cvlac/visualizador/generarCurriculoCv.do?cod_rh=0001533958

LinkedIn :

       https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylviavillar95/

1 Gigia was rated "A" by Minciencias, Colombia one of the top categories of Colombian research groups.

Experience

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2024 – Present
Academic Leader

 

Industrial Engineering Program
Unidades Tecnológicas de Santander (UTS)

Coordinate the largest Industrial Engineering program in Santander, with more than 2,700 students, 35 professors, and 7 administrative and laboratory staff. Responsibilities include academic planning, curriculum development, staff coordination, and strategic leadership to strengthen teaching, research, and industry connections.

2021
Technology Transfer Consultant

Camara de Comercio de Bucaramanga | Oficina de Transferencia de Resultados de investigación Estratégica de Oriente

Develop the value chain of the technology transfer process for Colombian inventions, which includes activities like commercializing patents, evaluating market and patent values, and creating training programs

2017
Industrial Engineer Professional

Universidad Industrial de Santander | Semiosis innovation Lab

As a team member on the project 'Desing a Knowledge Network in the Colombian Mining Sector - RedCOME' by Semiosis innovatioon LAB, i contributed to developing a methodological process for characterizing the components of the Knowledge network, which included information assets and flows. Additionally, I was involved in proposing operating guidelines for estabilishing the Knowledge network.

2016
Academic Coordinator of COGESTEC

Universidad Industrial de Santander | Semiosis innovation Lab

Led the academic committee and oversaw 10 auxiliary staff members. The committee successfully facilitated communication with over 400 international researchers across Latin America, organized more than 300 oral presentations for a major event, and efficiently coordinated a range of academic activities.

2014 - 3016
Volunteer intern

Universidad Santo Tomás | Centro de Emprendimiento y Desarrollo Empresarial

Assisted entrepreneurs from  initial stage to business model construction, managed Fondo Emprender - a digital platform for formulating business plans, and created a methodology for idea generation using free patents. 

2014
Volunteer intern

Departamento Nacional De Planeación | Piedecuesta City Hall

Monitored control routines, reported on information systems, and supported management reports.

Experience

PROFESSOR EXPERIENCE
2019-PRESENT
SMEs Consultant | Researcher | Professor

Unidades Tecnologicas de Santander | Industrial Engineering program * Consultant in operational management, marketing,l and innovation *Researcher of SOLYDO Gruop *Professor of Industrial Engineering Courses: innovation management; marketing; budgeting
2018-2020
Researcher | Professor

 

Universidad Manuela Beltrán | Industrial Engineering program

Manager of two “semilleros de investigación”

Leader of GIGIA Research Group.

Courses: project management, quality control, industrial processes, strategic planning, etc.

Education

Studied at
2016 – 2018
Universidad Industrial de Santander, Colombia

Master of Industrial Engineering

Research master

Area: Knowledge and innovation management

2012 – 2016
Universidad Santo Tomás, Colombia

Industrial Engineer, CUM LAUDE

Universidad Nacional de Lujan, Argentina (Exchange semester)

Area: Entrepreneurship, technology transfer and intellectual property (IP)

My TEDx Talk:

The Recipe for a Conversation with the Future [Spanish]

Knowledge And tecnology Transfer Consultant

  • Technology transfer manager

    Led the commercialization process for technologies in the health, agro-food, and mobility sector.

    0%
  • Competitive intelligence reports

    Developed comprehensive competitive intelligence reports for sectors including agro-food, ICT, construction, and Industry 4.0.

    0%
  • Patent valuation reports.

    Conducted value estimations for 6 Colombian inventions utilizing methods such as cost, Free Cash Flow (FCF), and royalty rate analysis for the "Sácale jugo a tu patente" program.

    0%
  • Training programs

    Conducted courses on business models and valuation methods and facilitated a demo day as part of the 'Sácale jugo a tu patente' bootcamp program.

    0%

Services

What I Do

Patent and Academic Research Monitoring

Systematic tracking of patents and academic research to provide actionable insights by identifying risks, opportunities, and trends, and finding key players in a specific industry.

Competitive Intelligence Report

In-depth analysis of competitor strategies and market benchmarking to offer a comprehensive and detailed understanding of a specific industry, including estimates of market share for the product or service of interest

Technology
and Patent Portfolio Commercialization

Facilitation of connections within the industry's innovation network to assist in effectively marketing, licensing, or establishing partnerships for inventions.

Training
Program

Specialized training in technology transfer processes for staff, aimed at enhancing the value of a company's intangible assets by providing practical tools

Conferences

Participation as a speaker at conferences focusing on technology transfer, supply chain management, the centennial workforce, SMEs, and innovation

Research papers

Thesis Supervisor

Year Project Title Institution Program Students
2023 Application of a training program in process engineering for entrepreneurs and microentrepreneurs UTS Technology in Industrial Production Valeria Ríos Arciniegas, Stefani Marín Gamboa
2022 Implementation of a digital content strategy on the Instagram profile for the Industrial Engineering program at UTS UTS Technology in Industrial Production Daniela Ochoa Pedraza, Libis Vanessa Ávila Mejía, Alex Humberto Agudelo Torres
2022 Characterization of articulation mechanisms between undergraduate programs and the metalworking sector in Bucaramanga, Santander UTS Technology in Industrial Production Lizeth Camila Castellanos Rondón, Diego Alexander Molina Jaimes
2022 Portfolio of research capabilities of the organization to strengthen articulation with the metalworking sector at UTS UTS Technology in Industrial Production Astrid Carolina Duarte León
To view all thesis supervisors, go to the link: https://scienti.minciencias.gov.co/cvlac/visualizador/generarCurriculoCv.do?cod_rh=0001533958

Research Products

  • Knowledge generation

    5
    Papers
    2
    Research Book Chapter
    0%
  • Innovation and technological development
    10
    Process Innovation Report
    10
    Management Innovation Report w
    0%
  • Knowledge social adoption
    10
    Consultant Reports
    10
    Oral Presentations
    0%

  • 10
    Podcast Episodes
    2
    Community Process
    0%

Other courses

Reviews
  • 2023

    Flexsim process flow training, Flexsim services training, Innovación empresarial, Inteligencia artificial; el proceso didáctico desde el modelo pedagógico uteísta.

    0%
  • 2022

    Seminario Taller Herramientas 2.0 para el apoyo en el proceso de enseñanza y aprendizaje, Curso Cómo hablar con los usuarios y técnicas de validación, Curso Métricas para marketing digital.

    0%
  • 2021

    Curso Transformación Digital para empresas, Curso de planificación de proyectos, Curso de Seguimiento y Cierre de proyectos, Curso de análisis de datos para la gestión de proyectos; escribir para publicar; Programa virtual de emprendimiento Cemprende; Inclusión en las IES; The hidden value lean in manufacturing and services.

    0%
  • 2020

    Design thinking con mind garage; IA para todos; New Models of Business in Society.

    0%
  • 2019

    branded content; gestión del conocimiento para la innovación.

    0%
  • 2018

    conocimiento y herramientas básicas para la investigación científica.

    0%

Contact

Let's talk

    Sylvia Villarreal
    industrial engineering
    • Residence: Colombia
    • Address: Bucaramanga
    • E-mail: me@sylviavillarreal.com
    • Linkedin:
    • https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylviavillar95/