The Millennium Science Initiative is the new kid on the block of international science. It came out of science's favorite process — serendipity — and its mission is to nurture world-class science and scientific talent in the developing world. One of its lasting results may be to slow, if not halt the brain drain of young scientists from developing countries. In the four years since the Millennium Science Initiative (MSI) was launched in collaboration with the World Bank, it has established 10 research institutes in Chile, 5 research entities in Mexico, and seventeen projects in Brazil.