Maria Silva

Maria Silva is a Full Professor at the Porto Business School of the Catholic University of Portugal, where she serves as Associate Dean for Research, Innovation and Sustainability and leads research at the Research Center in Management and Economics (CEGE). Her academic leadership includes directing the Management MSc program and chairing the Scientific Council.

Her educational qualifications:

• MSc in Management Science and Operational Research from Warwick University, UK
• PhD in Management Science from Aston University, UK
• 'Aggregation' degree from Portuguese Catholic University

Dr. Silva specializes in efficiency and productivity analysis with a core focus on Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), developing methodological innovations and real-world applications across education, banking, water utilities, retail, and healthcare sectors. Her work bridges theoretical advances with practical implementation through benchmarking systems.

Recent publications (2022-2024) reveal a consistent trajectory in extending DEA methodologies for complex systems including judicial networks and public service delivery, demonstrating both mathematical rigor and policy relevance in public sector efficiency measurement.

Her research impact is evidenced by international recognition, including a 2025 distinction in global rankings for contributions to efficiency analysis.

She has secured three major grants from the Portuguese Foundation of Science and Technology, resulting in operational benchmarking platforms for schools and hospitals, and currently leads a COST Action project on justice system efficiency while serving as Associate Editor for the Journal of Productivity Analysis.

As a core CEGE researcher, she drives collaborative work on public sector benchmarking with ongoing projects spanning educational institutions, healthcare systems, and judicial efficiency.