Throughout human history materials have been defining the progress of mankind. Today nanomaterials technology is affecting energy, environment, health, transportation industry and security issues around the world. With the exponential growth of population, it has become a global challenge to minimize the consumption of raw materials and at the same time optimize their utilization combined with energy reduction in manufacturing and minimizing environmental pollution during product usage and recycling. These challenges fall on the shoulders of academic and industrial materials researchers, as well as government policy makers. This symposium/workshop is the first of a series of events that will address the issues on regional sustainable development based on the collective priorities of South American countries. The four day symposium will address topics of materials for energy and advanced materials in future transportation products, as well as advances in industrial processing and techniques related to extractive materials. The symposium will take the form of oral presentations and discussions which will address selected topics on energy generation and storage, development of lightweight and resistant materials for transport vehicles, and modernization of the extractive industry of materials, including material phenomena at the micro- and nanoscales. Reports from the discussion groups will address: critical needs, proposed research and development challenges, research results, and establishing collaborative working groups to carry out strategic proposals that will be funded by government agencies and industries with potential partnerships to accelerate the end product manufacturing and marketing.