This EMBO/EMBL symposium aims at mechanistic understanding of self-organising properties of multi-cellular ;One of the defining features of living systems is their capacity to break symmetry and self-organise to form reproducible shapes and ;However, its mechanistic understanding remains a challenge as it requires a joint effort of multi-disciplinary teams. This Symposium will bring together those working in distinct disciplines such as cell and developmental biology, tissue biophysics, theoretical modeling, organoids and synthetic biology, and provide a platform to discuss and identify key approaches and future collaborations.