The fifth EMBO conference on 'The Molecular and Cellular Basis of Regeneration and Repair' took place in the peaceful coastal town of Sant Feliu de Guixols (Spain) on September 2014. The meeting was organised by Emili Saló (U. Barcelona, Spain), Kimberly Mace (U. Manchester, UK), Patrizia Ferretti (University College London, UK) and Michael Brand (Centre for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Germany) and received the generous support of Society for Developmental Biology, The Company of Biologists, Centre for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Garland Science and the journals Regeneration and Cell Signalling. The natural surroundings provided an inspiring setting for 185 researchers from all over the world to share their latest findings and views on the field. The conference showcased the great diversity of model organisms used for studying regeneration and tissue repair, including invertebrate and vertebrate species (Fig. 1). Importantly, this diversity in animal models allowed for a global overview of the mechanisms that promote regeneration. In addition, it highlighted some of the unique aspects that confer differences in regenerative capacities among different species. These differences might lie in each of the different steps involved in performing regeneration, including triggering the regenerative response, controlling cellular plasticity, re-stablishing the correct tissue patterns, as well as determining the roles of extrinsic factors, such as the role of inflammation in regeneration. A deeper understanding of these processes in the naturally regenerating species is a prerequisite for advancing the field of regenerative medicine and tissue repair in humans.