IPPA was established after the unexpected success of the 1st International Conference on Public Policy (ICPP) held at Sciences Po Grenoble in June 2013. The idea of organizing this conference stems from a project suggested by several researchers in charge of the research committees on public policy at the International Political Science Association (IPSA). Presented by the “Public Policy and Administration” research committee, this project was further supported by 5 others, such as the “Comparative Public Policy”, the “Local Policy”, the “Health Policy” or the “Gender Policy” committees. The American Political Science Association’s research committees (APSA), as well as that of the European Consortium for Political Research’s (ECPR), also joined.

Supported by IPSA, the AFSP (Association Française de Science Politique), the ENTPE (Ecole de L’Aménagement Durable des Territoires), Sciences Po Grenoble and the LAET and PACTE research labs, the first ICPP expected an attendance of 250/300 participants. At the end, ICPP brought together 900 participants, received over 700 papers and organized 3 plenary sessions.

Given the sudden success of this conference, it was decided not only to repeat the conference every two years but also to set up an international association exclusively dedicated to its organization. The statutes of IPPA were thus drawn up, and its Executive Committee and College were created.

The success of the second ICPP, held in Milan in 2015 with more than 1300 participants, allowed to settle and grow the Association, which now counted with over 1000 members and its first operating funds. After the 3rd conference in Singapore with more than 1300 participants, the Association proved it could organize conferences outside Europe.

Nowadays, IPPA not only organizes ICPP but a biannual International Workshop on Public Policy as well as five Seasonal Schools around the globe. Our activities have extended beyond the organization of events to include developing a free online journal (the International Review on Public Policy), prestigious awards in the profession such as the Early Career Researcher Award and providing teaching resources as well as a platform for public policy networks.