IQ-Net is a network of regional and national partners across the EU whose aim is to improve the quality of Structural Funds programme management through exchange of experience. The network involves a structured programme of applied research and debate; network partners meet twice a year, with conferences being hosted by the partners on a rotation basis.

IQ-Net was launched in 1996 and is managed by the European Policies Research Centre (EPRC) at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. Partner organisations are mainly regional or national European Structural and Investment Funds managing authorities or programme secretariats.

IQ-Net enables programme managers and their partnerships to exchange experience and share good practice on specific themes relating to the design, delivery, management and evaluation of the Structural Funds programmes. Briefing papers are prepared by EPRC as the basis for discussion at each meeting, bringing together comparative experience from across the EU. In addition to regular progress updates on the programmes, thematic papers are also discussed at each conference. Recent papers have covered: the results-orientation in 2014-20 programmes in terms of project generation and selection approaches; youth unemployment; the performance turn in EU Cohesion policy; innovation and 'Smart Specialisation' in Cohesion policy programmes; the use of financial instruments in Cohesion policy programmes; the evaluation and monitoring of 2014-2020 programmes; and, the simplification of Cohesion policy delivery. For more information on the network or to express interest in joining it see the IQ-Net website.

The European Policies Research Centre (EPRC) is a leading institute in Europe for comparative research on public policy, with a particular focus on regional development policies. Established in 1978, EPRC is part of the School of Government & Public Policy at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, whose research and scholarship are very highly ranked in the UK’s periodic Research Excellence Framework assessment of higher education institutions. Spanning 30 European countries, EPRC research programmes have a strong emphasis on applied research and knowledge exchange, including the provision of policy advice to EU institutions and national and sub-national government authorities throughout Europe.