Commercial Innovation Center (CIC)

We Are Better Together

Our Commercial Innovation Center (CIC) is a first-of-its-kind, online development and test platform that provides a secure, virtual, open ecosystem and test sandbox for developers and researchers. We do it by harnessing the combined powers of commercial remote sensing, unclassified open datasets, cloud technologies, in a secure development ecosystem fueled by new, emerging, and seasoned tools, services and data to create solutions that keep our nation safe. The Riverside Research CIC is the place where commercial subject matter experts come together securely to collaborate and create the best commercial solutions to real world scenarios before they're integrated and deployed in the field.

Together, we win

It’s not as much fun to play in the sandbox by yourself, right? We know from experience that it’s the collective work of many people with diverse experiences and backgrounds that create the most effective solutions. By design, the CIC encourages partnerships, increases data accessibility, integrates app development, and facilitates the creation of transition-ready prototypes. Because of our unique position as a nonprofit in the defense space, we can provide the neutral environment where collaborative innovation thrives. As demonstrated on this video, capitalizing on all commercial sensors available improves our progress towards persistent observation.

Access to rich datasets

Data is the one thing that is guaranteed to continuously grow and change. Technology entrepreneurs’ success revolves around access to these data and developing improved AI and machine learning tools creating integrated and advanced applications for businesses in support of (United States Government) USG needs.

Advanced tools and applications

Advanced tools and applications

Technology innovation in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and augmented and virtual reality present significant entrepreneurial opportunities, yet all require geospatial data for development. Early-stage entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and innovators will now have access to the large datasets that are traditionally only available to large, established industry players. Such datasets are often too costly for early-stage entrepreneurs and researchers to acquire, and even if the datasets are made available, they are often not packaged in a manner that allows innovators to work with the data—they are overwhelmingly unwieldy and non-standardized. The CIC data environment seeks to solve that problem, allowing researchers and entrepreneurs new opportunities for experimentation, testing, and training.

The CIC pairs this data with tools and services to streamline development timelines by ensuring flexible licenses are available for your R&D activities within the CIC ecosystem. As new tools and services become available, we negotiate with the vendors for early and shared access amongst our CIC participants to the latest and greatest capabilities from established vendors in the remote sensing market. This visual shows a few or our early integrators, and as new vendors are integrated, we’ll let the community know!

CIC Data Search and Discovery

Your all-access pass

The CIC supports and enables industry, scientific, academic, and governmental R&D activities by facilitating access to commercial remote sensing data. Riverside Research integrates the hardware, software, processes, data, tools, internet accesses, demonstration capabilities, and other IT infrastructure required to execute CIC participant SIBR projects and meet R&D objectives. Our CIC offers:

  • Exposure to diverse and emerging data and data types for more data scientists
  • Increased interaction between content providers and new application developers; enables cloud-hybrid, multi-INT applications
  • Lowered entry barriers by eliminating the need for a user-developed system
  • Integrated orchestration-to-analysis workflow
  • Timely teaming, technology, and tipping
  • Accelerated access and use of commercial remote sensing solutions and innovation
Right where you want it

Right where you want it

Are you looking for a cloud-hosting environment where you can easily access commercial data for development and test—all from one place to safely develop, load, and test capabilities?

Our trusted, unclassified, virtual development platform provides access to R&D-licensed commercial remote sensing phenomenologies (e.g., EO, radar, IR, RF), connects emerging and established vendors with shared application tools and services, and facilitates GEOINT, MASINT, and Multi-INT research and development. The CIC includes:

  • An ecosystem of commercial data providers (CDPs)
  • A network of application developers
  • Common R&D data and COTS/GOTS tools (e.g., loading, discovery)
  • Common testing data (curated, tagged)
  • Robust DevOps environment
  • Hybrid cloud-ready infrastructure
  • Protected intellectual property and data rights
  • Maturing secure data fabric
CIC mission, vision & values

CIC mission, vision & values

Mission: Provide data scientists and algorithm developers with a virtual development and test platform and access to new and diverse commercial remote sensing data to develop algorithms, tools, and services.

Vision: Work in the Nation’s interest to offer proven expertise and experience in commercial remote sensing to solve problems through innovation, agility, and creative thinking.

Values: Encourage partnerships and connect emerging and established users across USG and industry with shared application tools, services, and diverse commercial constellation data.

Participant Agreements: We offer access to a secure, virtual, cloud-based ecosystem to perform R&D using existing and emerging commercial sources to develop and test algorithms, tools, and services accelerating USG objectives.

Commercial Experts: We offer our commercial experience, data scientists, and phenomenology experts to support efforts using the CIC to perform commercial utility assessments, new sensor development, synthetic data V&V, data value/usability studies, and more.

Products and Services: We offer access to CIC-based products and services such as synthetic data generation, data tagging, AI/ML V&V, data compression, data geo-registration, and more.

Work With the Commercial Innovation Center
Press Inquiries About the CIC

Commercial Innovation in the News

  • Commercial Imagery
  • Satellite Launches
  • EO-MSI
  • SAR
  • HSI
  • RF
  • SSA
Commercial Imagery
How Long, Not Long - NASA Science

Montgomery is the focus of a satellite image that shows the city along a bend in. September 16, 2025. On March 24, 1965, a march from the campus of ...

Jan 19,2026
GalaxEye preps up for Mission Drishti, eyes 10 satellite constellations by 2030 - ET Telecom

... satellite that merges radar and optical imaging for advanced earth observation. The company aims to deploy a constellation of 10 satellites by ...

Jan 19,2026
Prof De Las Peñas delivers keynote in Taipei crystallography conference | News

This HIMAWARI8 satellite image for January 16, 2017, shows cold cloud tops and deep. 12 Dec 2025. Ateneo, Manila Observatory track down elusive rain ...

Jan 19,2026
China's satellite data shows iceberg A23a in final stage of disintegration - Ecns.cn

True-color imagery with 250-meter resolution captured by the Fengyun-3D satellite on Jan. 14 showed that the main body of A23a has shrunk to just ...

Jan 19,2026
Sargassum Seaweed Surges Cost US Beach Economies Millions Annually | TravelPulse

Researchers combined economic modeling, satellite imagery, NOAA data and other sargassum monitoring reports with hotel cancellation records ...

Jan 19,2026
China's satellite data shows iceberg A23a in final stage of disintegration - Chinadaily.com.cn

True-color imagery with 250-meter resolution captured by the Fengyun-3D satellite on Jan 14 showed that the main body of A23a has shrunk to just ...

Jan 19,2026
Sentinel-2A satellite gets a job on the nightshift - Spatial Source

Sentinel-2A satellite gets a job on the nightshift · Nighttime imagery of oil fields in Iraq, with gas flares showing up as orange glows · Nighttime ...

Jan 19,2026
WMAR-2 News Dylan Robichaud Sunday night weather - YouTube

Satellite and radar imagery show the low-pressure system responsible for today's snow is quickly moving out of the region.

Jan 19,2026
iOS 27 Will Add These 8 New Features to Your iPhone - MacRumors

Google Gemini will help power some of the new Apple Intelligence features. iOS 27 will reportedly support 5G satellite internet connectivity ...

Jan 19,2026
That's quite the inversion on the satellite image. Kinda looks like Italy got drunk and lost its boot

That's quite the inversion on the satellite image. Kinda looks like Italy got drunk and lost its boot.

Jan 19,2026
Man detained in Minneapolis dies in ICE custody in Texas - MPR News

This Aug. 7, 2025, satellite image shows construction of large white tents for a new immigrant detention center at Fort Bliss, a U.S. Army base ...

Jan 19,2026
Yale Humanitarian Research Lab: 'Possible siege preparations around North Kordofan ...

... satellite imagery. The lab reported the construction of new earthworks and embankments along key exit routes from the city, as well as around ...

Jan 19,2026
Gardena Cleansystem Soft Long-Handled Brush - For Gentle Cleaning Of Windows & Greenhouses

thumbnail image 2 of Gardena Cleansystem Soft Long-Handled Brush - For Gentle Cleaning Of ... Satellite. Add. $ 8. Hiija RG6 RG11 Coax Cable Crimper Kit ...

Jan 19,2026
Yale lab warns of imminent RSF siege on Sudan's El Obeid - Sudan Tribune

Satellite imagery captured between January 2 and 14 corroborated damage to El Obeid's power generation station consistent with bombardment. Open- ...

Jan 19,2026
Multi-Task Driven Semantic Communication for Satellite Imagery - IEEE Xplore

Abstract—In the space-air-ground integrated networks of the sixth generation (6G) systems, many satellite imagery need.

Jan 19,2026
The highly detailed, invisible work that goes into 'near real-time' bushfire mapping

When satellite imagery is included, drawings of the fire perimeter can be accurate to under 50 centimetres. Mapping delayed in high winds and ...

Jan 19,2026
GOES satellite imagery is giving us a clear view of the post-frontal lake effect snow bands forming ...

NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC). 48 likes. 🛰️❄️ GOES satellite imagery is giving us a clear view of the post-frontal lake effect snow bands ...

Jan 19,2026
New satellite model maps Pu'er coffee lands with nearly 95% accuracy - Prism Media

Researchers in China developed a machine learning template that uses satellite imagery to map coffee cultivation around Pu'er City in Yunnan, ...

Jan 19,2026
Tropical Cyclone 14S (Dudzai) / Tropical Cyclone 01W (Nokaen) / Invest 94P - Pacific

Animated enhanced infrared satellite imagery (eir) depicts a slowly consolidating and elongated low level circulation center (llcc) with ...

Jan 19,2026
VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF: 5 Powerful 2026 Growth Trends - Farmonaut

Green mining approaches give premium market valuation and improve regulatory approval rates. Farmonaut: Satellite-Based Mineral Intelligence for the ...

Jan 19,2026
Satellite Launches
Amazon and Starlink Set Up Satellite Internet Rivalry in Africa - Ecofin Agency

Alsat-3A was launched into orbit from China as Algeria's third Earth observation satellite The satellite provides high-resolution imagery to support..

Jan 19,2026
Diffraqtion raises $4.2M to field quantum camera satellites - SatNews

SOMERVILLE, Mass. — Quantum imaging startup Diffraqtion has secured $4.2 million in pre-seed funding to deploy satellite constellations equipped ...

Jan 19,2026
GalaxEye preps up for Mission Drishti, eyes 10 satellite constellations by 2030 - ET Telecom

... launch 'Mission Drishti', an innovative satellite that merges radar and optical imaging for advanced earth observation. The company aims to deploy ...

Jan 19,2026
SpaceX launches Starlink 6-100 mission from Cape Canaveral, Florida

... satellites into low-Earth orbit. Launch was at 6:31 p.m. EDT Sunday, Jan. 18, launched from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Jan 19,2026
SpaceX successfully launches Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral - WESH

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 29 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit on Sunday. The rocket lifted off from the Space Launch ...

Jan 19,2026
SpaceX Launches 29 Starlink Satellites Amid Chilly Florida Weather - Evrim Ağacı

Key Points. Launch Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral on January 18, 2026, deploying 29 Starlink V2 Mini satellites to low-Earth orbit. Land ...

Jan 19,2026
The Debris Around Google's Data Center in Space | FlaglerLive

(yucelyilmaz/iStock via Getty Images) ... Google is partnering with a space company to launch two prototype satellites by early 2027 to validate the ...

Jan 19,2026
Sentinel-2A satellite gets a job on the nightshift - Spatial Source

The spacecraft, launched in June 2015 and now approaching the end of its life, has been pressed into service to undertake test imagery of the Earth's ...

Jan 19,2026
Better Potential IPO in 2026: SpaceX vs. OpenAI (ChatGPT) - The Globe and Mail

Image source: Getty Images. SpaceX. Launched in 2002 by serial entrepreneur and billionaire Elon Musk, SpaceX is a company that builds rockets from ...

Jan 19,2026
Live updates from SpaceX rocket launch on Starlink mission at Cape Canaveral, Florida

The Falcon 9 will deploy 29 Starlink internet satellites into SpaceX's growing constellation in low-Earth orbit. No Brevard County sonic booms ...

Jan 19,2026
Space Science in 2026: New lunar explorers, Mars missions, and space telescopes

On Nov. 13, 2025, NASA's twin ESCAPADE satellites launched on Blue Origin's second New Glenn mission. ... Imager (L'LORRI). The new images ...

Jan 19,2026
Russia starts serial production of satellites for local Starlink alternative - Cryptopolitan

Roscosmos to manufacture and launch 300 'Zorkiy' satellites ... The low orbit allows for high-resolution imagery and satellite internet connection.

Jan 19,2026
NASA rolls out Artemis 2 spacecraft - Taipei Times

NASA on Saturday rolled out its towering Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft as it began preparations for its first crewed ...

Jan 19,2026
Greece Has Moved from Planning to Action in Outer Space - The National Herald

The five Greek micro-satellites that were launched at the end of ... images from the satellites of the National Microsatellite Programme (NMP).

Jan 19,2026
Airbus Space's Pleiades NEO 3 satellite captured 30cm resolution imagery of SLS rolling out ...

Why don't they just build the rocket on the launch pad ? I am sure it would save a lot of time and money. 3 hrs.

Jan 19,2026
Assessing Spire Global (SPIR) Valuation After Twilight Mission Satellite Launch And HyMS Debut

Spire Global (SPIR) is in focus after launching nine satellites on SpaceX's Twilight mission, including its HyMS weather sensor, and adding eight ...

Jan 19,2026
Greece Activates Its First National Satellite Fleet - GreekReporter.com

... satellite constellation launched late last November. On Sunday, the Athens Macedonian News Agency (AMNA) unveiled the mission's historic first images ...

Jan 19,2026
Elon Musk says he's refocusing on Tesla. Satellite images show Musk's growing business ... - MSN

... land in Texas in 2012 near Boca Chica Village. The small community near. To make way for its new rocket launch site — Starbase — SpaceX tried to buy.

Jan 19,2026
Morgan Stanley tweaks Rocket Lab stock price target post-rally - TheStreet

Launch: getting payloads to space. Electron and HASTE: Electron supports its popular small-satellite launches, having deployed 245 satellites already, ...

Jan 19,2026
Six Ukrainian oblasts came under Russian attack overnight – Zelenskyy

Satellite images show aftermath of strike on Russia's Taganrog ...

Jan 19,2026
EO-MSI
Starlink Mini Powers Remote Road Trips As Rivals Emerge - Grand Pinnacle Tribune

Amazon, too, is in the mix with its Kuiper satellite network, which Eversore ISI analyst Mark Mahaney called "the only realistic challenger" to ...

Jan 19,2026
SkyFi Secures $12.7M To Scale Satellite Insight Platform - FindArticles

Satellite capacity has exploded, with thousands of spacecraft ... Planet, Maxar, BlackSky, Capella Space, Umbra, and others have pushed ...

Jan 19,2026
Elon Musk says he's refocusing on Tesla. Satellite images show Musk's growing business ... - MSN

©MAXAR / Getty Images. Since 2020, all of Elon Musk's major companies have moved their headquarters to Texas. Satellite images show how SpaceX ...

Jan 19,2026
An Argentine company will supply satellites to Portugal and strengthen the Atlantic ...

... Satellogic specializes in the design, manufacture, and operation of satellite systems. Its constellation of low-orbit nanosatellites allows for ...

Jan 19,2026
Airbus' Pleiades NEO 3 satellite captured 30cm resolution imagery of SLS rolling out to the ...

NASASpaceflight (@nasaspaceflight_ig). Airbus' Pleiades NEO 3 satellite captured 30cm resolution imagery of SLS rolling out to the pad today along ...

Jan 19,2026
Airbus' Pleiades NEO 3 satellite captured 30cm resolution imagery of SLS rolling out to the ...

Jake (Max-Q) 󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (@rocketjunkie94). 721 likes 3 replies. Airbus' Pleiades NEO 3 satellite captured 30cm resolution imagery of SLS rolling out ...

Jan 19,2026
Casino.com Reports on NASA's Revolutionary Geocorona Satellite in Western Sahara

... satellite will maintain a continuous, unobstructed view of ... isi-consolideaza-poziatia-in-romania · y-news-29030695-2026-01-18-betsson ...

Jan 19,2026
Harry Stranger's Post - LinkedIn

Airbus' Pleiades NEO 3 satellite captured incredible imagery of NASA's SLS rocket rolling along the Kennedy Space Center crawlerway today!

Jan 19,2026
Constellation Software (TSX:CSU) Valuation Check After Q3 Highlights Dependence On ...

Constellation Software (TSX:CSU) is back in focus after its ... OOO97 on Neo Performance Materials · 16 days ago. Undervalued Key Player ...

Jan 19,2026
RedDog's Unrelated Disconnection in the British Indian Ocean Territory - 8 News NOW

... neosurfaz-ile-azerbaycan-ucun-ehamiyetli-idman-hadisi-2026-australian-open-in-gozlenen-cekilisi · y-news-28864872-2026-01-18-rivalo-outshines ...

Jan 19,2026
SAR
When the Sky Stumbles, the Spirit Soars - The Statesman

... satellite, LACHIT-1 hurts. Yet, in a country that reveres both ... PSLV-C62 failed to place defence satellite EOS-N1 into orbit after a ...

Jan 19,2026
Satellite centres of advanced endoscopy institute planned - Newspaper - DAWN.COM

... Images Special Reports Aurora Dawn News · Eos/Icon/Young World Cityfm89 Herald Teeli. Copyright © 2026, Dawn. NewsKit Publishing Platform by ...

Jan 19,2026
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 29 Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida | Space

The service also supports wifi on airlines and direct cell-to-satellite calls for select providers. ... An Indian PSLV rocket launches the EOS-N1 ...

Jan 19,2026
SkyFi Secures $12.7M To Scale Satellite Insight Platform - FindArticles

Planet, Maxar, BlackSky, Capella Space, Umbra, and others have pushed image cadence and resolution forward, while specialty players are bringing ...

Jan 19,2026
SkyFi Secures $12.7M To Scale Satellite Insight Platform - FindArticles

Satellite capacity has exploded, with thousands of spacecraft ... Planet, Maxar, BlackSky, Capella Space, Umbra, and others have pushed ...

Jan 19,2026
Polite prompts add millions to AI energy bills

EOS-N1 hyperspectral satellite before encapsulation within the PSLV-C62 payload fairing for ISRO's. Assam Don Bosco University to launch ...

Jan 19,2026
The Survivor in the Debris: A glimmer of hope in India's space failure - DNA India

The main satellite aboard was EOS-N1, also called Anvesha, built by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation.

Jan 19,2026
Isro launches EOS-09 to space: India's new eyes in the sky is an imaging wonder - MSN

India successfully launched its advanced Earth observation satellite, EOS-09, early Sunday morning, marking a big leap in the country's all-weather ...

Jan 19,2026
HSI
SSA

Questions about Commercial Innovation Center (CIC)