The International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) is a unique forum to discuss multidisciplinary topics related to cartilage research and therapy including basic science, clinical investigation and industrial development. The World Congress of ICRS, held every 18 months, is especially important to accomplish our mission by providing a unique chance to meet our colleagues with the same interest and learn from the world’s top experts in this field. In addition, it may be a special experience to get acquaintance with new friends from all over the world and share productive and meaningful time over discussions on the common topics of interest. The whole congress reflects the dynamic nature cartilage injury and repair, the growing importance of the ICRS as a preeminent organization and the tremendous efforts of its members in both basic scientific and clinical endeavors. The program builds on the overwhelming popularity and success of previous ICRS meetings and reflects our desire for scientists and clinicians to collaborate and share ideas. The content of congress includes: • Updates on current clinical strategies for repair of hyaline and meniscal cartilage, as well as emerging trends and controversies such as the use of stems cells, growth factors and gene therapy. • Sessions on the osteochondral unit, synovial joint pathophysiology and osteoarthritis reflect the growing recognition of the role of subchondral bone behavior and the synovial joint as an organ. • Cartilage repair in specific anatomic situations such as the patellofemoral joint, ankle, hip and upper extremity will be addressed. • Practical “how to” sessions will cover fundamentals of basic research including study design and peer reviewed publication as well as advice on patient evaluation and surgical technique from leading experts. • The technical sessions will be chaired by world-renowned leaders and provide a unique possibility to obtain a compact knowledge about a specific topic in a small group. These sessions are geared towards young scientist / clinicians and seasoned specialists. In addition, this time allows delegates to bring their problem and complex cases for discussion with the opinion leaders in cartilage repair. • We will also feature the popular “mini battlefield” format where controversial questions will be passionately debated.