European Policies Research Centre

What European Policies Research Centre does

The European Policies Research Centre (EPRC) is an academic research centre established in 1978 and embedded within the University of Strathclyde's School of Government & Public Policy in Glasgow. It conducts comparative public policy research across six thematic areas: regional development, EU Cohesion policy, State aid and subsidy discipline, territorial cooperation, policy governance, and financial instruments. EPRC serves 30 European countries including all EU Member States plus Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Its institutional architecture comprises the Glasgow headquarters, EPRC Delft (Stichting EPRC Delft, jointly operated at TU Delft in the Netherlands, established as its EU base in 2021), and a network of 60+ institutional partners and sponsors.

EPRC's offerings are structured as research consortia and knowledge exchange networks rather than commercial products. The core revenue-generating vehicle is the EoRPA consortium (European Regional Policy Research Consortium), funded by national government ministries in 12 countries (Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom) since 1979, which produces annual comparative regional policy reviews. The IQ-Net network, managed by EPRC Delft since 1996, brings together Structural Funds managing authorities across the EU for programme management knowledge exchange. Additional activities include Horizon Europe research projects (RUSTIK on rural sustainability, DUST on democratising sustainability transitions, GRANULAR on rural functionality, NICE on net zero industrial transformation), capacity-building workshops for Scottish local government on climate action, and postgraduate research degrees (PhD/MPhil) plus an International Masters in Regional and Territorial Development at EPRC Delft. Outreach runs through publications, biannual webinars, conferences, direct policy engagement, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Bluesky channels.

EPRC monetises exclusively through government research contracts, EU institutional grants (including Horizon Europe), consortium membership fees from EoRPA governments, and institutional support as part of the University of Strathclyde. There is no commercial pricing; outputs are disseminated via open access publications and members-only consortium deliverables. The organisation has produced 297+ publications spanning from 1979 to 2026 and completed 210+ documented research projects, positioning itself as a long-tenured, network-anchored policy research entity rather than a scalable technology platform.

Name

European Policies Research Centre

Legal name

European Policies Research Centre

Website

https://eprc-strath.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

EPRC is an academic research centre at the University of Strathclyde conducting comparative public policy research across 30 European countries. It serves national government ministries, EU institutions, and regional authorities through the EoRPA consortium, IQ-Net network, Horizon Europe projects, and postgraduate education programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research Services

NAICS

International Affairs (92812), International Affairs (928120), Public Administration (92)

SIC

International Affairs (9721), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Research, Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Partnerships (EDADALAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

International & Comparative Education Policy Organizations (EDADADAL), Intergovernmental Education Cooperation & Bilateral/Multilateral Programs (EDADALAA)

Keywords

• EU cohesion policy research
• Comparative public policy
• Regional development analysis
• Structural funds research
• Policy consulting services

Headquarters

HQ city

Glasgow

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Research Contracts: EPRC generates revenue through research contracts with national government departments, EU institutions, and regional authorities. The EoRPA consortium is funded by national government ministries in 12 countries. Additional funding comes from European Commission Horizon Europe grants and other research commission work.
2. Institutional Support: As part of the University of Strathclyde's School of Government & Public Policy, EPRC receives institutional support and resources from the university, which is ranked highly in the UK's Research Excellence Framework assessment.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

EPRC conducts comparative public policy research and applied analysis on regional development, EU Cohesion Policy, State aid, and territorial cooperation across Europe. It delivers this through consortium-based research networks (EoRPA, IQ-Net), Horizon Europe projects, commissioned studies, and academic postgraduate programmes housed at the University of Strathclyde.

Product overview

The European Policies Research Centre (EPRC) operates as a research institute rather than a commercial product company. Its offerings consist of research consortiums, knowledge exchange networks, research projects, and educational programmes. The core services include: EoRPA (European Regional Policy Research Consortium) providing comparative regional policy research across 30 countries; IQ-Net offering Structural Funds programme management knowledge exchange; NICE for net zero industrial transformation knowledge sharing; RUSTIK focused on rural sustainability transitions; and DUST for citizen engagement in sustainability transitions. EPRC also offers postgraduate research degree opportunities (PhD/MPhil) and an International Masters programme through its Delft branch.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EoRPA: European Regional Policy Research Consortium - a regional policy research consortium funded by national government departments across Europe producing comparative research and knowledge exchange on regional policy in 30 countries
• IQ-Net

Products and services

• EoRPA Consortium
• IQ-Net Network
• Horizon Europe Research Projects
• PhD and MPhil Research Degrees
• International Masters Programme International Masters programme in European public policy offered through the University of Strathclyde in conjunction with EPRC. Targeted at international students and early-career policy professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Produces annual in-depth policy reviews for 30 countries through EoRPA consortium
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Horizon Europe DUST Project ConsortiummajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2023DUST (Democratising jUst Sustainability Transitions) is a Horizon Europe project led by TU Delft in response to the call 'The future of democracy and civic participation'. EPRC identifies community-based factors promoting or hindering participation in sustainability transition governance.
• Horizon Europe RUSTIK Project ConsortiummajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022RUSTIK is a four-year Horizon Europe research project (2022-2026) on rural sustainability transitions. EPRC leads analysis of how evidence and indicators are used in strategies and policy implementation, working with Living Labs in 14 European Pilot Regions in 10 countries. Funded by European Commission and UK Research and Innovation.
• GRANULAR Project ConsortiummajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022GRANULAR is a Horizon Europe project running concurrently with RUSTIK, focused on rural area functionality understanding. EPRC participates in joint conferences and research activities with the GRANULAR consortium.
• IQ-Net Partners - Structural Funds Managing AuthoritiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1996IQ-Net is a network managed by EPRC Delft bringing together regional and national partners from Structural Funds programmes across the EU. The network aims to improve the quality of Structural Funds programme management through exchange of experience, expertise, and mutual learning, with regular meetings and advisory support.
• EoRPA Consortium - National Government MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1979EoRPA (European Regional Policy Research Consortium) is a core consortium funded by national government departments in 12 countries: Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The consortium produces comparative research and knowledge exchange on regional policy in 30 countries, with annual in-depth reviews and thematic reports.
• TU DelftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPRC Delft is based at TU Delft (Technical University of Delft) and specializes in comparative research on Cohesion policy, territorial cooperation, and State aid and subsidy discipline. The partnership enables EU-based operations and collaborative Horizon Europe project delivery.
• Scottish GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScottish Government is a key funder and research partner, having commissioned the 50-year study of EU Structural Funds in Scotland. The NICE project was pilot funded by Scottish Government along with Michelin.
• Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc (MSIP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture between Michelin, Dundee City Council, and Scottish Enterprise. MSIP serves as a case study initiative for the NICE project, focusing on redeveloping a former tyre-manufacturing site to net zero uses.
• British AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBritish Academy Policy Convening Fund supports EPRC project on strengthening local government capacity for climate action in Scotland, in collaboration with British Academy Sustainable Futures Public Policy Team.
• OECDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPRC collaborates with OECD on beneficiary capacity building studies for EU Cohesion Policy. Dr Yingyin Wu from OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities has presented at EPRC webinars on administrative capacity building.
• European Investment BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEIB provides support for fi-compass technical assistance platform for ESIF financial instruments. EPRC contributes to horizontal assistance and advisory services for EU public sector.
• Norwegian Ministry of Local Government and Regional DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Norwegian Ministry participates in EoRPA network and conducted a three-day visit to Scotland hosted by EPRC, enabling exchange with policymakers on regional economic development policy.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bruegel: European economics think tank focused on international economics, EU policy, and member-state economic issues. Comparable as a leading European policy research institute with pan-European membership/governance model.
• Jacques Delors Centre (Hertie School): Berlin-based European policy research center at Hertie School focused on EU integration, cohesion, and economic governance. Directly comparable as a university-affiliated European policy research center.
• ISPI (Istituto per gli Studi di Politica Internazionale): Milan-based think tank producing research on international and European policy. Comparable as a non-profit European policy research institute with comparable scale and government engagement.
• European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR): Pan-European think tank with offices across multiple EU capitals conducting policy research with national-level perspectives. Comparable network structure and member-state engagement model.
• CASE (Center for Social and Economic Research): Warsaw-based research center producing socioeconomic analysis and policy advice across Central/Eastern Europe and the EU. Comparable as a comparable-sized policy research organization with EU project funding.
• CEPS (Centre for European Policy Studies): Brussels-based think tank producing independent policy research on EU integration, economic, and social policy. Highly comparable to EPRC as a leading European policy research center with EU institutional relationships and multi-country research output.
• European Policy Centre (EPC): Brussels-based independent think tank engaged in EU policy analysis across multiple domains including cohesion, economic governance, and regional development. Directly comparable as a comparable-sized EU policy research organization with similar funder base.

Emerging players

• OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities: OECD unit producing research on regional development, cohesion policy, and capacity building — explicitly cited as a collaborating partner with EPRC on capacity building studies. Compares as a supranational policy research body with overlapping thematic focus.

Others

• Regional Studies Association (RSA): International membership organization advancing regional development research, with annual European conferences where EPRC researchers participate. Acts as a peer ecosystem institution rather than a direct competitor.
• European Investment Bank (EIB) - fi-compass: Joint EIB-European Commission initiative providing advisory services on financial instruments under EU Cohesion Policy. EPRC is a contributor to its advisory services, making it a buyer/partner rather than a direct competitor, but operating in the same policy research ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC-gaYDfiRKZ5sMsHnwomfZw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eprc-strath

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about European Policies Research Centre