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.

Capella Space Active RF
Capella Space Active RF
the CIC encourages partnerships, increases data accessibility, integrates app development, and facilitates the creation of transition-ready prototypes
the CIC encourages partnerships, increases data accessibility, integrates app development, and facilitates the creation of transition-ready prototypes

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
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
Iran Is at Work on Missile and Nuclear Sites, Satellite Images Show - The New York Times

The experts cautioned that the full extent of the repairs remains unclear, given that satellite imagery offers only an aboveground view of the ...

Feb 6,2026
Effects of Back-to-Back Winter Storms over Eastern U.S. and the Bahamas | NASA Earthdata

Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition (CSDA) Program · Earth Science Data ... Visit Worldview to visualize near real-time imagery and historical imagery ...

Feb 6,2026
How satellite intelligence is reshaping mining decision-making | Steve Davis - LinkedIn

How satellite intelligence is reshaping mining decision-making globalminingreview.com.

Feb 6,2026
Amazon said on Thursday that it would spend $200 billion this year on data centers ... - Facebook

... satellite imagery. AWS CEO Matt Garman stated the investment will "fundamentally transform how federal agencies leverage supercomputing" and ...

Feb 6,2026
FEATURE: Cloud-piercing US-India radar satellite set to sharpen forest carbon monitoring

FEATURE: Cloud-piercing US-India radar satellite set to sharpen forest carbon monitoring ... intelligence, as well as other content including all job ...

Feb 6,2026
satellite imagery archaeology - Arkeonews

Satellite imagery showing expanse of modern Tabriz in 2022, with inset detail of the modern · News · Possible Remains of a Monumental Persian Garden ...

Feb 6,2026
Underwriting Intelligence Platform: Automate Property Risk Assessment with Agentic AI

... satellite imagery, vision-language models, and geospatial risk APIs. The platform is designed to transform underwriting workflows by: Automating ...

Feb 6,2026
Are we destroying our window to the cosmos? Satellite trails could make space science ...

Researchers warn that satellite swarms may soon scar almost every image from low‑orbit telescopes ... Zdenek Bardon captured Starlink satellite trails ...

Feb 6,2026
Russian plane crash visible from Google Maps.... Satellite imagery has occasionally ...

Satellite imagery has occasionally captured the haunting remnants of aviation disasters, offering a stark reminder of how vast landscapes can ...

Feb 6,2026
Severe drought, gusty winds fuel fire threat with freeze warning looming overnight

– Fire danger is a serious concern across Northeast Florida and South Georgia. Our Exact Track 4D radar and the GOES satellite imagery show several ...

Feb 6,2026
Widespread forest disturbance from windthrow in central African rainforests - Nature

The windthrow contour was manually delineated using the photographs and Landsat imagery by Dr. Vincent Deblauwe (Congo Basin Institute). d–i Satellite ...

Feb 6,2026
Finding ariel imagery and satellite imagery in southern los angeles : r/gis - Reddit

Which publicly available ariel imagery and satellite imagery has the highest resolution in south los angeles from June 2002 to June 2007 that can ...

Feb 6,2026
Widening beaches make California 500 acres bigger than it was 40 years ago

Satellite imagery now allows us to measure beach width everywhere, several times per month.” The research highlights significant opportunities for ...

Feb 6,2026
What's Buried Beneath Antarctica's Ice? A New Map Unveils the Continent's Hidden ...

The chart, created with satellite imagery and physics-based computer simulations, reveals thousands of previously unknown landforms and provides ...

Feb 6,2026
Could this have been prevented? Satellite tech shows I-10 ground was shifting ... - FOX 26 Houston

... satellite technology may have detected the signatures of this collapse years ago. Using satellite radar imagery, Milillo identified millimeter ...

Feb 6,2026
Iran's newly unveiled ground stations to boost satellite control, speed up image reception: ISA

... launch of the Salmas and Chenaran ground stations has enabled more precise control of Iranian satellites and faster reception of satellite imagery.

Feb 6,2026
Satellite Communications Team Lead, NSIC Jobs - ClearanceJobs

Satellite Communications Team Lead, NSIC requiring an active security clearance. Find other Department of the Air Force defense and intelligence ...

Feb 6,2026
Inaugural ASU–Science prize recognizes research that serves farmers from the ground up

Meha Jain uses satellite imagery and machine learning to help smallholder farmers increase their food production sustainably.

Feb 6,2026
Charlie Kirk assassination may have been warning towards future attack - Y-City News

American KH-9 Spy Satellite main camera stereo coverage, exposing a gap in imagery that remains classified over the Great Salt Lake region. By Jason ...

Feb 6,2026
Fears of new nuclear arms race grow as key U.S.-Russia treaty expires - NBC News

The two sides can still use satellite imagery, human intelligence and other forms of restricted data to get an idea of where the other side's ...

Feb 6,2026
Satellite Launches
China launches BeiDou-based satellite short messaging service for emergency needs

China has launched a new satellite short messaging service leveraging the BeiDou Navigation Satellite ... images. साताको लोकप्रीय. १ ...

Feb 6,2026
MethaneSAT Releases First Global Assessment of Oil and Gas Climate Pollution

Credit: Brandon Bell/Getty Images ... Hamburg didn't rule out the possibility that EDF may launch a satellite of its own again in the future.

Feb 6,2026
A Quick Note on Orbiting Data Centers - CEPA

As SpaceX introduces more powerful rockets or if it can use a “mesh” network approach using multiple small satellites, the cost could drop, but launch ...

Feb 6,2026
Ukraine Confirms First Combat Use of FP-5 Flamingo Cruise Missile on russia's Kapustin ...

... launches of intercontinental and intermediate-range missiles, including Oreshnik system. ... High-quality satellite imagery shows damage to a boiler ...

Feb 6,2026
Exolaunch to Deploy 57 Satellites on Transporter-16 Mission - ASDNews

Exolaunch, a global leader in launch mission management, satellite ... Imagery. Jan 29, 2026 · The 1st Airbus Pleiades Neo Next Satellite Will Be ...

Feb 6,2026
China launches satellite for emergency communications using BeiDou system - Anadolu

China has launched a new satellite-based short messaging service using the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) to maintain communication during ...

Feb 6,2026
Isro Readies Gisat-1A Launch After Past Setbacks - GKToday

The satellite will be launched aboard the GSLV-F17 rocket. Gisat satellites provide near real-time geo-imaging from geostationary orbit. The 2021 ...

Feb 6,2026
SpaceX prepares to launch 25 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base - KSBY

SpaceX is targeting Saturday for the launch of 25 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Feb 6,2026
Aiming at the blue ocean of spectral quantitative remote sensing and deploying the world's ...

... launch of a total of 55 satellites. He has also led the demonstration and incubation of multiple satellite models, totaling more than a hundred ...

Feb 6,2026
Reports: Putin's Spacecraft Intercept Key European Satellites | WION Fineprint - YouTube

On February 4, 2026, reports from European intelligence and space agencies surfaced detailing a series of aggressive “satellite interceptions” by ...

Feb 6,2026
AI tracks icebergs from birth to breakup to expose hidden climate effects

The AI works by analyzing the unique geometric shapes of icebergs captured in satellite images. ... OpenAI launches Codex app to manage multiple AI ...

Feb 6,2026
Are we destroying our window to the cosmos? Satellite trails could make space science ...

An unprecedented surge in satellite launches is threatening space-based astronomy, with a new study warning that more than 96% of images from ...

Feb 6,2026
The Islamic Republic seeks nuclear weapons against Israel – negotiations only buy it time

... Satellite imagery of the Natanz Nuclear Facility (Image: Wikipedia). 3 ... Launch of 'zio eradication' group cancelled by venue · 03. If you ...

Feb 6,2026
AI Tracks Icebergs' Life Cycle for First Time | Mirage News

Using satellite imagery, the system identifies individual icebergs ... Folio Launches: Digital Dive into Aussie Comics. 06 Feb 2026 1:37 pm ...

Feb 6,2026
UC San Diego-Led Science Team Selected for NASA Satellite Mission

The selected missions have readiness dates expected to launch no earlier than 2030, with a total mission cost limit of $355 million for each chosen ...

Feb 6,2026
SpaceX Tipped To Launch Its Own Starlink Phone As Elon Musk's Ambitions Grow Ever ... - Wccftech

... Launch 1 Million New Satellites. SpaceX might launch a dedicated Starlink phone to corner the market for satellite-connected devices. As per a ...

Feb 6,2026
Soyuz launches classified payload - RussianSpaceWeb.com

... satellites on February 5. Previous classified launch: Rodnik No. 32, -33, -34. launch. Soyuz-2 rocket mission on Feb. 5, 2026, at a glance: Payloads.

Feb 6,2026
Satellite pics reveal HUGE US military buildup near Iran as Trump warns Ayatollah

A HUGE American military buildup near Iran has been seen for the first time in new satellite images as Trump “lays the groundwork” for ending the ...

Feb 6,2026
UC San Diego-Led Science Team Selected for NASA Satellite Mission

With Fricker serving as principal investigator (PI), EDGE will be the first global satellite imaging laser altimeter system. Laser altimetry is a ...

Feb 6,2026
Final Frontier: Diving into Space ETF UFO's Top 3 January Stocks

Earth's orbit represents a vast opportunity space, with an ever-growing number of satellites, for example, being launched into operation. The space ...

Feb 6,2026
EO-MSI
NGA Awards Vantor $5 Million for Global Change Detection Under Luno B Contract

Mobility Panasonic Avionics to Partner with China's Spacesail Constellation for IFC Capacity ... Vantor, which was called Maxar Intelligence until last ...

Feb 6,2026
Satellite Data Services Market to Reach USD 38.6 Billion by 2032, says Stratview Research

Leading companies include Airbus, Maxar Technologies, Northrop Grumman, L3Harris Technologies, Planet Labs PBC, ICEYE, Trimble Inc, and Satellite ...

Feb 6,2026
Hensoldt completes A400M drop trials of HADIS unmanned carrier, advancing plans for full ...

Airbus to launch first Pléiades Neo Next satellite in 2028, strengthening Earth observation and geospatial services · Lockheed Martin has been awarded ...

Feb 6,2026
Global Constellation boards Canadian animation 'Dragoons' for international sales, releases first look

... neo-noir · Supporting Role. 'Supporting Role' review: Georgian star Dato ... Global Constellation boards Canadian animation 'Dragoons' for international ...

Feb 6,2026
Will a bright comet adorn our early spring sky? Why astronomers are getting excited about ... - MSN

When first sighted, it was located at 191 million miles (308 million km) from the sun; shining in the constellation of Colomba the Dove at a magnitude ...

Feb 6,2026
BlackSky to Host Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Results Conference Call - Barchart.com

BlackSky to Host Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Results Conference Call. BlackSky ... satellite constellation. With BlackSky, customers can see ...

Feb 6,2026
Isar Aerospace opens second test site at Esrange Space Cente - ASDNews

... Satellite Imagery. Jan 29, 2026 · The 1st Airbus Pleiades Neo Next Satellite Will Be Launched Early 2028. Jan 27, 2026 · NGC Boosters Ready to Launch ...

Feb 6,2026
Why We're Not Concerned Yet About Constellation Energy Corporation's (NASDAQ:CEG ...

Constellation Energy Corporation ( NASDAQ:CEG ) shareholders that were ... NEO logo · OOO97 on Neo Performance Materials · about 1 month ago ...

Feb 6,2026
Lockheed Martin Awarded $328.5 Million Contract to Deliver Legion-ES Systems - I-Connect007

Maxar's Third and Fourth WorldView Legion ... as the next-generation WorldView Legion satellite imaging constellation payload provider.

Feb 6,2026
On This Date: Second 'Snowmageddon' Snowstorm Buried Mid-Atlantic | Weather.com

Left: A high-resolution visible satellite image shows the extensive snow cover over the mid-Atlantic on Feb. ... (Left: NASA Worldview; Right: Alex Wong ...

Feb 6,2026
Assessing Constellation Software's Valuation After AI Jitters And Leadership Change - Simply Wall St

Why Constellation Software is Back in Focus Constellation Software (TSX ... NEO logo · OOO97 on Neo Performance Materials · about 1 month ago ...

Feb 6,2026
BlackSky to Host Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Results Conference Call - Morningstar

BlackSky Technology Inc. (NYSE: BKSY) will host a live webcast and ... satellite constellation. With BlackSky, customers can see, understand ...

Feb 6,2026
AI to track icebergs adrift at sea in boon for science - Space Daily

Using satellite images, the tool captures the distinct shape of ... BlackSky expands Gen 3 Assured deals with new defense customer · Raytheon ...

Feb 6,2026
BlackSky stock gets Buy rating reiteration from Canaccord on Gen-3 contract win

Jefferies also set a price target of $23.00, noting the expected benefits from a refreshed satellite constellation by the end of 2026. Get The News ...

Feb 6,2026
BlackSky stock gets Buy rating reiteration from Canaccord on Gen-3 contract win

Jefferies also set a price target of $23.00, noting the expected benefits from a refreshed satellite constellation by the end of 2026. This article ...

Feb 6,2026
BlackSky to Host Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Results Conference Call - Markets data

HERNDON, Va. --(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 5, 2026-- BlackSky Technology Inc . (NYSE: BKSY) will host a live webcast and ...

Feb 6,2026
BlackSky to Host Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Results Conference Call

HERNDON, Va., February 05, 2026--BlackSky Technology Inc. (NYSE: BKSY) will host a live webcast and conference call to discuss fourth quarter and ...

Feb 6,2026
Vantor wins $5.3 million NGA contract to spot terrain changes using commercial satellite data

Based in Westminster, Colorado, Vantor, formerly known as Maxar Intelligence, operates a constellation of high-resolution imaging satellites and ...

Feb 6,2026
WEST 2026: Orbit to showcase OceanTRx 4 MIL-GRADE product delivering very resilient ...

OceanTRx 4 MIL is a field-proven, military-grade SATCOM platform engineered to ensure communications continuity when satellite ...

Feb 6,2026
Israeli forces bulldozed part of war cemetery in Gaza containing Allied graves, satellite images show

... satellite imagery and witness testimony. Satellite images of the ... A spokesperson for the Royal British Legion said: “We are saddened to ...

Feb 6,2026
SAR
Exolaunch to Deploy 57 Satellites on Transporter-16 Mission - ASDNews

... satellite integration, global shipping and customs clearance, and ... Capella Space, Pixxel and US Commercial Customer on SpaceX's NAOS ...

Feb 6,2026
Kymeta-JDI meta-surface to enable multi-band, multi-orbit satcomns | Electronics Weekly

... satellite frequencies. This collaboration aims to deliver the industry's first ... Ukraine, Sweden expand access to ICEYE's satellite SAR imagery.

Feb 6,2026
Canon launches its widest hybrid prime lens yet | Digital Camera World

Canon RF 14mm f/1.4L VCM is a seriously wide lens optimized for videography - and the most expensive RF hybrid yet.

Feb 6,2026
ISRO preps for Gisat-1A launch, sat expected to reach spaceport soon - MSN

... Satellite (Gisat-1) or EOS-03, Isro is geared up to launch Gisat-1A or EOS-05, as its replacement. Side Sleepers Get Achy Shoulders, Few Know ...

Feb 6,2026
Isro Readies Gisat-1A Launch After Past Setbacks - GKToday

Gisat-1A is also known as EOS-05 and replaces the failed EOS-03 mission. · The satellite will be launched aboard the GSLV-F17 rocket. · Gisat satellites ...

Feb 6,2026
Cathay Group Selects Thales Avionics Solutions to Equip its - ASDNews

Cathay Pacific will also equip its A330neos with AVIATOR S, Thales' cockpit satellite communications (SATCOM) system. ... PAZ-2 Satellite Imagery.

Feb 6,2026
Sky Perfect JSat: Revenue & oper income up for 9M to Dec 31, Japan MoD ISR constellation ...

Iceye: No IPO for now; $300M+ in 2025 rev, $3B valuation & expanding production; asks EU to go faster on secure comms · German military: We're ...

Feb 6,2026
Isro preps for Gisat-1A launch, sat expected to reach spaceport soon - The Times of India

... Satellite (Gisat-1) or EOS-03, Isro is geared up to launch Gisat-1A or EOS-05, as its replacement. Tired of too many ads?go ad free now. Gisat ...

Feb 6,2026
Isar Aerospace opens second test site at Esrange Space Cente - ASDNews

... Satellite Service to Power Precise Navigation Across Europe. Jan 28, 2026 · Airbus and Hisdesat Sign a Commercialisation Agreement for PAZ-2 Satellite ...

Feb 6,2026
Canon Announces the Canon RF 14mm f/1.4L VCM

Canon's newest L-series prime is here. The RF 14mm f/1.4L VCM delivers professional video features and incredible low-light performance in a ...

Feb 6,2026
Germany Eyes Long-Term Plan for Military Space Capabilities - The Defense Post

... satellite constellation. The program, managed by the Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions joint venture, is scheduled to run through 2030, with ...

Feb 6,2026
Gilat Receives Over $10 Million Order to Support LEO Constel - ASDNews

... Satellite Networks © Gilat Satellite Networks ©. Gilat Satellite ... PAZ-2 Satellite Imagery. Jan 29, 2026 ...

Feb 6,2026
A federated SAR satellite partnership offers satellite intelligence that can increase on ... - LinkedIn

View organization page for ICEYE · ICEYE. 157,315 followers. 1h. Report this post; Close menu. A federated SAR satellite partnership offers satellite ...

Feb 6,2026
ISRO Issues Radio Blackout Alert as Powerful Solar Flares Threaten India & Disrupt Satellite ...

... satellite provides ISRO with real-time information regarding solar ... Who is Matteo Paz? The Teen Who Mapped 1.5 Million Changing Objects in ...

Feb 6,2026
SSA

Questions about Commercial Innovation Center (CIC)