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
Hurricane Priscilla forms in the Pacific Ocean off the southwestern coast of Mexico

In this satellite image released by NOAA, Tropical Storm Priscilla forms in the easter Pacific. NOAA via AP. In this satellite image released by ...

Oct 5,2025
Hurricane Priscilla forms in the Pacific Ocean off the southwestern coast of Mexico - ABC4 Utah

... In this satellite image released by NOAA, Tropical Storm ...

Oct 5,2025
Hurricane Priscilla forms in the Pacific Ocean off the southwestern coast of Mexico - Alton Telegraph

In this satellite image released by NOAA, Tropical ...

Oct 5,2025
Hurricane Priscilla forms in the Pacific Ocean off the southwestern coast of Mexico

Hurricane Priscilla forms in the Pacific Ocean off the southwestern coast of Mexico. In this satellite image released by NOAA, Tropical Storm ...

Oct 5,2025
Ukraine accuses China of aiding Russian strikes with satellite data - The Times

Ukraine has accused China of aiding Russian attacks by supplying satellite intelligence as Kyiv imposed new sanctions on a Chinese company it says is ...

Oct 5,2025
My new favorite Garmin watch of all time got a big satellite upgrade that's changed how I hike

Garmin adds LTE and inReach satellite connectivity to your wrist, letting you adventure far from your phone with confidence.

Oct 5,2025
China provides intelligence to Russia on Ukraine targets, Ukrainian intelligence says - Reddit

There was satellite monitoring of all major Indian air bases. China has more satellites than Russia and they are probably of higher quality.

Oct 5,2025
Engineering - Indian Teen Creates World's Lightest Satellite, Launched by NASA At ...

... satellite weighing only 64 grams. Named in honor of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul ... May be an image of 8 people and text that says 'ENGINEERING & SCIENCE ...

Oct 5,2025
Satellite images reveal 'scar' left by colossal wind and hail storm: 'Everything that was there is gone'

... satellite imagery. Accompanied by over 90 miles per hour winds, the storm destroyed around 425,000 acres of crops in the region. Researchers with ...

Oct 5,2025
Sandwich composite satellite imagery from GOES‐16 (East) during TS... - ResearchGate

Download scientific diagram | Sandwich composite satellite imagery from GOES‐16 (East) during TS Alberto (June 17–21, 2024) illustrates key stages ...

Oct 5,2025
Vaḩdat - Live Satellite Weather Image - freemeteo.ru

Vaḩdat, Live Satellite Weather Images! Vaḩdat, useful weather information in real time through high definition satellite images. freemeteo.ru.

Oct 5,2025
The Third Magic - by Noah Smith - Noahpinion

The authors use deep neural nets (i.e., AI) to look at daytime satellite imagery, in order to predict future economic growth at the hyper-local level.

Oct 5,2025
Middle East Eye - X

Middle East Eye looks at satellite imagery revealing a greatly expanded network of military and intelligence bases built by the United Arab ...

Oct 5,2025
IndiaWarZone on X: "Satellite imagery from today shows Indian & British aircraft carriers ...

Satellite imagery from today shows Indian & British aircraft carriers alongside other surface vessels in the Arabian Sea, taking part in Exercise ...

Oct 5,2025
Viewing Animated Storm Floater Satellite - FLHurricane.com

Current Radar or Satellite Image. Flhurricane.com - Central Florida Hurricane Center - Tracking Storms since 199530 Years of Hurricanes Without the ...

Oct 5,2025
satellite imagery - Academic Journals and Conferences |

satellite imagery · Application of Artificial Intelligence Methods for Spatial Analysis of Agricultural Land Use in the Qgis Geoinformation System.

Oct 5,2025
Doha News on Instagram: "Satellite imagery released by Qatar's Meteorology Department ...

9 likes, 2 comments - dohanews on October 5, 2025: "Satellite imagery released by Qatar's Meteorology Department shows that Tropical Cyclone ...

Oct 5,2025
Lecture 22: Decoding Ancient Texts with Satellite Imagery and Mapping - YouTube

Lecture 22: Decoding Ancient Texts with Satellite Imagery and Mapping. 19 views · 1 day ago ...more. SWAYAM BHU. 6.19K. Subscribe. 0. Share. Save.

Oct 5,2025
Premier Gold, Mine & Diamond Mine: 2025 Breakthroughs - Farmonaut

AI-Driven Resource Assessment: Machine learning algorithms analyze satellite and geospatial images, accurately predicting diamond-rich zones while ...

Oct 5,2025
Ukraine Claims China Used Spy Satellites To Give Data Of Key Facilities To Russia To Target

China has provided Russia with satellite intelligence used for missile strikes on Ukrainian territory. Claim was made by a representative of ...

Oct 5,2025
Satellite Launches
North Korea's Kim Jong Un visits naval destroyer: KCNA | The Straits Times

South Korea-based SI Analytics reported in September that satellite imagery ... PM Lawrence Wong speaking at the launch of the Asatizah Professionals ...

Oct 5,2025
The next SpaceX rocket launch in Florida is set for early Tuesday. Here's what to know.

... launch of the satellites ... Satellite-based imagery of Earth has just entered a new frontier, thanks to the recently-launched NISAR satellite.

Oct 5,2025
Report: U.S. Expands THAAD Missile Defense Base in Israel

Recent satellite images reveal a significant expansion of the U.S. Army's THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) base, located near the “Site ...

Oct 5,2025
Planet Labs (PL): Evaluating Valuation Following New Satellite Shipments, Berlin ... - Simply Wall St

Planet Labs PBC (NYSE:PL) is in the spotlight after shipping its latest Pelican-5 and Pelican-6 satellites for an upcoming launch with SpaceX, ...

Oct 5,2025
Trump suggests willing to extend arms control deal with Russia - Space War News

... launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and nuclear warheads remain below ... NASA ISRO radar satellite beams first Earth images from space · India ...

Oct 5,2025
Pahalgam Terror Attack: Terrorists used Huawei device linked to Chinese Satellite, Claims Expert

Before the assault, the Chinese reportedly provided satellite images of the Pahalgam area—around 120 to 129 slides—to Pakistan. This is yet ...

Oct 5,2025
UAE space sector enviable hub for knowledge-based industries - Gulf Today

4, the Thuraya 4 satellite was launched, along with four others ... These cameras will equip Rashid Rover 2 to deliver high-resolution imagery to ...

Oct 5,2025
SpaceX Launches Set Records As Global Space Race Heats Up - Grand Pinnacle Tribune

... satellite launches. Space has never been busier, nor more ... launch contract with Japanese firm Synspective to loft radar imaging satellites.

Oct 5,2025
At Least Three Chinese Reconnaissance Satellites Detected Over Western Ukraine During ...

They passed at low Earth orbit, which allows for the capture of detailed, high-resolution imagery. ... Russia Launches Massive Overnight Attack ...

Oct 5,2025
A Fresh Look at AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) Valuation After Satellite Launch Milestones and ...

AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) just hit an important milestone by completing final assembly and testing of its BlueBird 6 satellite and preparing it for ...

Oct 5,2025
At Least Three Chinese Reconnaissance Satellites Recorded Over Lviv Region During ...

... Satellite Launch Center on September 6th, 2023. Photo credits: Ourspace ... imagery from other satellites within the CGST network. #China.

Oct 5,2025
Iran Prepares to Launch First Dual-Purpose Satellite - Sada Elbalad english

Its imaging precision has also been enhanced, reaching a resolution of about 3.5 meters in near-infrared and color spectrum ranges. Shahabi noted ...

Oct 5,2025
Chinese Yaogan SAR Satellites Monitor Western Ukraine After Russian Strikes - Межа

Yaogan 33 were launched in 2022–2023, replacing Yaogan 1 SAR equipment, which began launches in 2006. Direct SAR imagery is sometimes compared ...

Oct 5,2025
Elon Musk's SpaceX wins $714 million in upcoming Pentagon launches as Blue Origin ...

Fast Company has reached out to the Space Force for comment. The missions assigned to SpaceX include launches for a communication satellite, three ...

Oct 5,2025
Madhya Pradesh: Special Force To Monitor Sheopur Stubble Burning Using Satellite Images

While the administration is engaged in raising awareness among farmers, a campaign has been launched that stubble can become a source of income ...

Oct 5,2025
“Build, Launch, Inspire: UniSat 3.0 Girls Aim for Space” — UzDaily.uz

... nanosatellites assembled by participants of the educational program UniSat 3.0 were successfully launched. ... images of Earth for environmental ...

Oct 5,2025
Western Fears Soar As Rocket Power Grows, Chabahar Spaceport Unleashes Ambition - YouTube

... imaging and communications satellites, including Pars-3, Nahid-3, and ... satellite development and launch capacity. INTERNATIONAL NEWS Add ...

Oct 5,2025
Researchers Launch Bold Expedition After 'Very Strong' Evidence Suggests Amelia ...

... satellite images in 2020 and matches the size and shape of Earhart's plane. “Finding Amelia Earhart's Electra aircraft would be the discovery of a ...

Oct 5,2025
University of Pittsburgh Students Successfully Deploy Applications to Geosynchronous ...

Dikchhya tackled a related issue concerning the massive data generated by satellite images. Many images transmitted back to Earth are of little ...

Oct 5,2025
China provides intelligence to Russia on Ukraine targets, Ukrainian intelligence says | Reuters

China is providing intelligence to Russia to enable Moscow to better launch ... satellite intelligence on targets, including those benefiting from ...

Oct 5,2025
HSI
SSA

Questions about Commercial Innovation Center (CIC)