04/10/2026 Anigami, a company based in Osona, has patented a new technology designed to monitor visitor numbers in natural environments. The company received assistance from ACCIÓ, the agency for business growth under the Department of Business and Labor in Catalonia, which provided intellectual property advisory services during the patent process.
The initiative arose from Anigami's experience in managing natural spaces in Osona that attract a significant number of tourists. Recognizing the limitations of existing solutions for counting visitors in remote areas, Anigami developed an energy-efficient system that employs advanced communication technologies such as NB-IoT and LoRa. These technologies enable the transmission of small data packets over long distances, facilitating sensor communication in challenging environments.
According to Anigami's CEO, Gerard Costa, “the goal is to ensure that information about what is happening reaches visitors, allowing them to make informed decisions and seek alternatives to avoid conflicts or risks.”
Costa emphasized that the technology empowers tourist areas with an autonomous system that can redistribute visitor flow and prevent overcrowding. The data collected by the sensors is sent to a server and can be accessed via a web or mobile application by the relevant management authorities. Additionally, the information can be integrated into other platforms, such as websites, risk maps, emergency service platforms, or informational screens for visitors.
One of the areas where this technology is being implemented is Rupit, a municipality in Osona with a population of fewer than 300 residents but approximately 200,000 annual visitors. Costa noted, “our system allows us to monitor the situation in the village and provide tourists with information about occupancy and parking availability.”
Anigami has also conducted pilot tests at various river beaches along the Ter River, where staff can access data to optimize management, as well as in the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park. In this park, sensors have been installed in areas without mobile coverage and operate via satellite to monitor hiker presence and better manage potential accidents.
Following the development of this technology, Anigami has launched a spin-off called Talaya Systems, to which it has transferred the patent and is working on new sensor applications for territorial observation. Costa emphasized that “Anigami is not a technology company; it is a community-rooted company seeking solutions to current problems.” He added, “the need to develop technology that did not exist led to the founding of Talaya Systems.”
The system is currently in the pilot phase, with plans for commercialization in spring 2027. The company is also exploring market opportunities in Germany and other projects within Spain.
Founded in 1992 in l'Esquirol, Anigami initially focused on adventure sports but has since evolved into active tourism, ecotourism, territorial consulting, safety and risk management, and cultural projects. The company employs a core team of around 15 people, which can expand to 80 depending on project demands. Over its history, Anigami has worked on projects in approximately 60 countries and has participated in European initiatives and international consulting activities. For instance, it has collaborated on a project in the La Guajira region of Colombia, advising local entrepreneurs on managing natural spaces and access in response to increasing tourist pressure, drawing on its experience in the Collsacabra region.
Government support for business innovation
The Catalan government has approved the Business Innovation Strategy for Catalonia 2026-2030, aimed at strengthening the innovative capacity of the Catalan business landscape and enhancing competitiveness. Led by ACCIÓ, the strategy plans to increase business funding by 30% in 2026, with a budget of 78 million euros expected to mobilize nearly 300 million euros in investments from companies.
Among the key objectives set for 2030 are achieving 2% of GDP in business R&D expenditure, surpassing 12,000 innovative companies, establishing over 3,000 startups, and exceeding 250 tech hubs for multinational technology firms in Catalonia. The strategy includes eight key areas and more than 30 specific actions to promote technological sovereignty, talent development, digital transformation, decarbonization, and international positioning of Catalonia as an innovation hub.
