Indelible Ink for the Dominican Republic

Rocío Castañeda y Enrique Soto

Due to its guarantee of quality and reliability in electoral processes, the Central Electoral Board of the Dominican Republic has requested the Instituto Politécnico Nacional to produce indelible ink for its upcoming general elections, scheduled for next May.

Both parties signed a project to allocate five thousand two hundred liters of indelible ink, whereby this educational institution contributes to ensuring the certainty of the largest democratic process in the Caribbean country.

The General Director of the IPN, Arturo Reyes Sandoval, stated that indelible ink is an example of the innovation and knowledge developed by researchers at this institution to address various issues that transform society.

Addressing the creator of the indelible liquid and a teacher for over 56 years at the Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas (ENCB), Filiberto Vázquez Dávila, he added that this development is a contribution to the democratic life of the country and other parts of the world. It also combats the forgery of official documents and the clandestine sale of counterfeit papers, such as diplomas, professional identification cards, certificates, and military service cards.

The Director of Elections of the Central Electoral Board of the Dominican Republic, Mario Núñez Valdez, also pointed out that the indelible ink produced at the ENCB represents an important security measure and a guarantee of reliability in elections. For several years, it has served as evidence of the inviolability of the electoral process in that nation.

The Secretary of Innovation and Social Integration of the IPN, Yessica Gasca Castillo, emphasized that this collaboration marks an important step in the shared commitment to the internationalization of the IPN and the promotion of scientific and technological research to generate a positive impact.

The signing ceremony was also attended by the General Administrative Director of the Central Electoral Board of the Dominican Republic, Bilbania Batista; the Minister Counselor and Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy in Mexico, Freddy Espinosa Mireles, and the General Supervisor of the Electoral Board, Juan Luciano Ramírez.

IPN leaves its indelible mark on the Caribbean country

In an interview with Gaceta Politécnica, Filiberto Vázquez Dávila, head of the production plant and creator of the indelible liquid, detailed that 122,000 applicators of the pigment were produced in a roll-on presentation with a content of 40 milliliters per unit.

He explained that his team of 30 people worked diligently to complete this production, from configuring the container to sealing the boxes in which the product will be transported.

Vázquez Dávila stated that the pigment has left an indelible mark on the pages of democratic history not only in Mexico but also in countries such as El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. "We celebrate 30 years of making skin pigment. The success of this development is that the same formula has never been repeated, so it cannot be falsified," he emphasized.

The professor at the Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas (ENCB) assured that by pigmentation, the skin ensures that there is no transmission of any type of virus, especially SAR-CoV-2. "Our intention was not to prepare an antiviral product, but the pigment turned out to be, due to its components, a very powerful biocide," he detailed.

He expressed his pride because millions of citizens carry a piece of the Polytechnic on their thumb when participating in electoral processes to choose authorities such as presidents, governors, mayors, legislators, and union leaders.

Vázquez Dávila expressed his satisfaction because indelible ink is one of the technological developments of the IPN that has the highest recognition nationally and internationally. "The pigment has contributed its bit to the prestige of the Politécnico."

Gaceta Politécnica #1766. (January 15th, 2023). IPN Imagen Institucional: Read the full magazine in Spanish here.