1 Foladori, G, M. Rushton and E. Zayago Lau (2008). Chapter 4. Center of Educational Excellence in Nanot echnology: The Proposed World Bank Scient if ic Millennium Init iat ives and Nanot echnogy in Lat in America. In New Nanotechnology Developments Barrañon, Armando (ed.), Washington, D.C., Nova Publishers. Centres of Educational Excellence in Nanotechnology: The Proposed World Bank Scientific Millennium Initiatives and Nanotechnogy in Latin America Guillermo Foladori, 1 Mark Rushton, 2 Edgar Zayago Lau 3 Abstract This article analyses the World Bank Milennium proposals to support research in nanotechnology in Latin America. The proposals are based in the theory of the “knowledge economy.” It concludes by raising some concerns regarding the sustainability of the proposals as foundations for development. Keywords: Nanotecnology, Latin America, Knowledge Economy, Scientific Millennium Initiatives, Development. 1. Nanotecnology and the Question of Development Nanotechnology is rapidly being converted into the technological platform of the next industrial revolution. Although the world market in products that contain nanocomponents is currently quite small, analysists anticipate an exponential growth in the coming years. The table below provides an idea of the current situation and projections: Current and Projected Sales of products containing nanoparticles (World) Year Billion US$ Reference 2005 32 Lux Research, 2006 2008 100 Lawrence, 2005 2010 500 Baker & Aston, 2005. 2014 2, 900 Lux Research, 2007, 2.9 trillion by 2014 Científica 2007, 2.95 trillion by 2015. 1 Dr. Guillermo Foladori, Professor, Doctoral Program in Development Studies, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, México. Member of the Latin American Nanotechnology & Society Network (ReLANS). fola@estudiosdeldesarrollo.net 2 Mark Rushton, Doctoral Program in Development Studies, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, México. mrushton@mac.com 3 Edgar Zayago Lau, Student, Doctoral Program in Development Studies, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, México. Member of the Latin American Nanotechnology & Society Network (ReLANS). edzlau@yahoo.com .