After graduation in economics from the University of Rome "La Sapienza", he did research at the Science Policy Research Unit at Sussex University in England with Christopher Freeman and Keith Pavitt, and at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Sirillis is a professor of economics and management of innovation in various Italian universities (LUISS, Tor Vergata University, Unitelma).

As chairman of the OECD Group of National Experts on Science and Technology Indicators (NESTI) he contributed to the development and revision of various statistical manuals (Frascati Manual on R&D, Oslo Manual on Technological and Organizational Innovation, Canberra Manual on Human Resources for Science and Technology, Patents Manual).

Author of over 220 scientific publications.^{[2][sentence fragment]} He was the councillor for budget in Albano Laziale, his home city, and is a co-author of the Dictionary of Albanense Dialect^[3]

• Giuffrida S., Silvani A., Sirilli G., Research evaluation of the Italian CNR institutes: a missed opportunity?, ISSiRFA, Roma, January 2011
• Sirilli G., Science and Technology Indicators: Challenges of the Next Decade, in Albornoz M., (ed) Agenda 2011. Temas de Indicadores de Ciencia Y Tecnologia, RICYT, Buenos Aires, 2011
• Sirilli G. et al., The MEADOW Guidelines, MEADOW Consortium, Paris, 2010
• Sirilli G. (ed.), La produzione e la diffusione della conoscenza. Ricerca, innovazione e risorse umane, Fondazione CRUI, Roma, luglio 2010. ISBN 978-88-96524-02-2
• Perani G., Sirilli G., La dimensione regionale della ricerca e dell'innovazione, Quinto Rapporto annuale sullo stato del regionalismo-2008, Milano, Giuffrè, 2008
• Sirilli G., Tuzi F., An evaluation of government-financed R&D projects in Italy, Research Evaluation, volume 18, n. 2, June 2009, pp. 163–172
• Sirilli G., Innovazione tecnologica, Enciclopedia della Scienza e della Tecnica, Volume V, pp. 311–322, Roma, Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana, 2008
• AA. VV., La valutazione della ricerca. Libro bianco, Consiglio Italiano per le Scienze Sociali, Marsilio, Venezia, 2006
• Sirilli G., Ricerca e sviluppo, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2005
• Silvani A., Sirilli G., Tuzi F., R&D evaluation in Italy: More needs to be done, Research Evaluation, vol. 14, n. 3, December 2005, pp. 207–215