Gijón Impulsa
We created a Virtual Reality and audiovisual space at the Leorio Active Tourism Business Incubator.
Gijón Impulsa, an entity of Gijón City Council dedicated to promoting economic development, innovation and entrepreneurship, launched the Leorio Active Tourism Business Incubator (VETA).
This facility is funded by the Just Transition Institute (Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge) and by the Government of the Principality of Asturias through Sekuens.
Breaking down barriers to accessing VR technology
Active tourism companies and emerging entrepreneurs do not usually have the capital or the technical support to acquire, configure and maintain advanced Virtual Reality infrastructure.
That is why the project required a physical and technological space that did not demand advanced technical knowledge from users to set up devices or load projects. An accessible, easy-to-manage infrastructure was therefore needed, as well as a global, end-to-end technology partner who would also collaborate on the creative needs of the space, headset management and audiovisual screens.
In addition, the room had to serve both as a technical testing area (R&D) and as a professional showroom for customers and investors. The objectives of the project were therefore:
- Breaking down technological barriers to entry: Giving the incubator's companies access to immersive technology without financial barriers or complex learning curves.
- Boosting business development: Providing an environment in which to test applications, simulate active tourism routes or activities and present immersive experiences to end customers.
- Operational optimisation: Implementing a centralised management system that makes it possible to control VR devices in an agile, clean and intuitive way.
Our technological contribution
- To turn the multipurpose room into a leading technology centre, INVELON carried out a comprehensive turnkey project covering consultancy and design, hardware deployment, installation, and technical support and guidance:
- Design of the Virtual Reality space: Planning and layout of the immersive area to guarantee maximum safety and mobility for users while using the virtual reality headsets.
- Design and installation of signage and vinyls: Graphic fit-out of the room with custom vinyl, giving the space a modern, professional visual identity aligned with the image of Gijón Impulsa and the natural setting of Leorio.
- Installation of screens and audiovisual equipment: Assembly and integration of high-definition monitors and screens to project in real time what the user experiences inside the VR headsets, allowing observers or tutors to follow the activity.
- Deployment, configuration and development of the VR device management system: INVELON deployed and configured the immersive headsets and integrated custom management software. The Pico Device Management system allows the centre's administrators and entrepreneurs to control, launch, monitor and update content on multiple headsets simultaneously and in a simplified way from a central interface.
A business incubator for active tourism companies
The greatest milestone of this project lies in the removal of the barriers to technology adoption. Traditionally, Virtual Reality requires a high initial investment in licences and equipment, compounded by the technical complexity of maintaining and managing it. Thanks to the solution implemented by INVELON:
- On-demand, frictionless access: The incubator's companies have a complete technology lab ready to use, where they can test prototypes, market their services and run demonstrations without incurring infrastructure costs.
- Ease of use: The management system developed by INVELON removes the complexity of setting up VR headsets, allowing any entrepreneur, regardless of their technical profile, to interact with the technology without setbacks.
- Competitive differentiation in the green and tourism sector: SMEs based in Leorio can digitalise their active tourism experiences (virtual tours, sports simulations or environmental awareness experiences), positioning themselves at the forefront of innovation.
The project proved a success by offering a perfect balance between functional space design, audiovisual power and custom management software, making the Leorio Incubator a benchmark for technological innovation applied to the green economy and local entrepreneurship.