We investigate hierarchies of nonlinear Schrödinger equations for multiparticle systems satisfying the separation property, i.e., where product wave functions evolve by the separate evolution of each factor. Such a hierarchy defines a nonlinear derivation on tensor products of the single-particle wave-function space, and satisfies a certain homogeneity property characterized by two new universal physical constants. A canonical construction of hierarchies is derived that allows the introduction,

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... at any particular "threshold" number of particles, of truly new physical effects absent in systems having fewer particles. In particular, if single quantum particles satisfy the usual (linear) Schrödinger equation, a system of two particles can evolve by means of a fairly simple nonlinear Schrödinger equation without violating the separation property. Examples of Galileian-invariant hierarchies are given.