The author is a research fellow at the European Policies Research Centre at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, United Kingdom. Email: <>. This article is based on research undertaken for IQ-Net network, for further information: Van der Zwet A, Miller S and Gross F (2014) ‘Integrated Territorial Approaches in Cohesion Policy 2014-20’. IQ-Net Thematic Paper 35(2),European Policies Research Centre,University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. The author would like to thank all IQ-Net researchers for their case study research in IQ-Net partner countries and regions. IQ-Net is sponsored by 14 managing authorities of ESIF programmes across Europe. It should be noted that the content and conclusions of this article do not necessarily represent the views of individual members of the IQ-Net Consortium.