The aim of this Colloquium is to bring together experts from the fields of continuum mechanics and micromechanics, materials science, applied mathematics, physics, and mechanical, aerospace and civil engineering to improve the mutual understanding of deformation and failure mechanisms governing mechanical properties of materials and components/structures. The Colloquium focuses on the methods of modelling, numerical simulations and the industrial application of advanced materials and the experimental verification of models describing a material response to various types of loading. The important aspect of the Colloquium will be modern engineering and biomechanical applications of advanced materials (composites, ceramics, MMC's, multiphase alloys, metallic foams, biomaterials, etc.)