The hackathon awarded three solutions aimed at improving the mountain experience in the Pyrenees through the application of technologies such as immersive reality, virtual reality, and digital geocatching.
The activity is part of the ‘Àrees Digitals’ initiative, promoted by the Government of Catalonia through the Secretariat for Digital Policies, with the support of Mobile World Capital Barcelona and the i2CAT research centre.
17/October/2025
62 students took part in the Pirineu Tech and Outdoor Sports in the Natural Environment Hackathon, held on October 16 and 17 at the CETAP and the Joan Brudieu Institute in La Seu d’Urgell.
The event brought together participants in seven teams of 8 to 9 people, who were presented with four different challenges to solve. The first challenge involved creating a multi-platform application to explore the range of activities, companies, and events available in the Pyrenees throughout the year. The second focused on developing augmented reality experiences to discover and experience the region through an immersive adventure. The third challenge consisted of designing virtual reality workshops to learn about the mountain environment or to bring it closer to people who cannot easily visit or enjoy it. As for the fourth challenge, teams worked on designing a digital geocatching experience to encourage outdoor play and offer alternative ways to explore nature. Participants had to choose one of these four challenges and propose a technological solution.
Three awarded projects
Throughout the hackathon, three standout proposals were recognised with prizes in different categories. In the Sustainability category, the winning project was Pirisec, a social network promoting mountain activities among strangers. The award was presented by the La Seu d’Urgell City Council and IDAPA. In the Technological Innovation category, the winner was Els voltors, an augmented reality app offering gamified mountain experiences; the award was presented by representatives from INEFC Pirineus and the Joan Brudieu Institute. Finally, in the Best Functional Prototype category, the project Walking Through the Past, a virtual reality experience designed to allow elderly people to enjoy mountain routes, received the prize from Roc Roi and Pirineu Tech.
An event to enrich the Pyrenean outdoor experience through technology
Joan Barrera from the La Seu d’Urgell City Council opened the event, followed by representatives from IDAPA, the Joan Brudieu Institute, INEFC Pirineu, and Clúster TIC Sud, who presented the challenges and shared the hackathon’s objectives. Next, a panel discussion was held on how technology can boost mountain sports, featuring experts from INEFC and Arantec. Speakers highlighted how sensorization, data analysis, connectivity, and virtual reality can enhance performance, safety, and the management of sporting activities and events in mountain environments. They also emphasised the key role of local talent in turning these insights into practical solutions during the hackathon.
In addition, participants received preliminary training complemented by a brainstorming session led by Clúster TIC Catalunya Sud. In this context, teams worked together to design potential solutions to their chosen challenges throughout the rest of the first day and part of the second.
The hackathon served as a bridge between multidisciplinary education, business challenges, and the practical development of technological solutions, creating a real impact in the Pyrenees, particularly by integrating local talent into the regional economy. It also brought together all the key stakeholders of the quadruple helix model, including businesses, public institutions, academia, and citizens.
About the Pirineu Tech and Outdoor Sports in the Natural Environment Hackathon
The Pirineu Tech and Outdoor Sports in the Natural Environment Hackathon is an event promoted by the ‘Àrea Digital Alt Pirineu’, as part of the ‘Àrees Digitals’ —an initiative driven by the Government of Catalonia through the Secretariat for Digital Policies, with the support of Mobile World Capital Barcelona and the i2CAT research centre. The hackathon was organised with the collaboration of local partners such as RocRoi, INEFC Pirineus, Joan Brudieu Institute, Clúster TIC Catalunya Sud, and Pirineu Tech, who contributed to defining the challenges. The competition also received support from institutions including the Diputació de Lleida, IDAPA, the Cambra de Comerç Lleida, the La Seu d’Urgell City Council, and the Tremp City Council.
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