Qualitative and quantitative similarities as a function of the system size in heavy ion collisions from low energy dissipative collisions, collective expansion of compressed baryonic matter up to the geometrical scaling evidenced at the highest energies presently attainable at LHC, are presented. PACS numbers: 25.70.Lm, 25.75Ag, 25.75.Ld, 25.75Nq, 21.65.Qr