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
'They're no longer hiding': How Russia is shipping liquefied natural gas to China despite sanctions

It can then be seen heading toward the terminal, about 6 kilometres away. Satellite image from December 8, ...

Dec 12,2025
Study: Current, future megaconstellations risk space-based astronomy - Spaceflight Now

... satellite trail contamination. The satellite trails represent the ... Image: SpaceX. The paper argues though that even some techniques ...

Dec 12,2025
Eckerd College marine science professor helps track shifting seaweed that could alter ...

... satellite imagery with decades of field observations to investigate this complex ocean phenomenon. ... Occurring since 2011 in satellite data ...

Dec 12,2025
How Dark-Fleet Ships Use A Digital Trick to Disappear—And How to Find Them

But satellite imagery told a different tale—the ship was actually near Venezuela. “Basically, we have the images to know that it was not where it ...

Dec 12,2025
MASSIVE Gas Explosion Levels Homes In California — 6 Injured - YouTube

... satellite imagery. All six injured individuals were transported to nearby hospitals as local crews work to secure the area and assess the full ...

Dec 12,2025
Protecting Subsea Cables: Detect to Deter, Sue to Secure - CSIS

... satellite imagery, to detect and deter would-be saboteurs. Deterrence by detection eliminates plausible deniability and imposes real costs ranging ...

Dec 12,2025
Mapping escalating US pressure on Venezuela - Reuters

Source: MarineTraffic.com (positional data), Kpler (analysis), TankerTrackers.com (positional data) and Copernicus Sentinel (satellite image). The ...

Dec 12,2025
[OC] New interactive satellite imagery exhibit at NC Museum of Natural Science: "Live Stream Earth"

[OC] New interactive satellite imagery exhibit at NC Museum of Natural Science: "Live Stream Earth". u/mfaerber1 • in 16 hr. [OC] New interactive ...

Dec 12,2025
Supertanker Skipper seized by US near Venezuela is heading to Houston, sources say

Satellite image shows VLCC ship Skipper, believed to have been seized off the coast of. A satellite image shows the very large crude carrier (VLCC) ...

Dec 12,2025
Not just Utah: The West is off to its slowest snow collection start in at least 25 years - KSL TV

Snowpack levels are below average to well below average in basins across the West, and satellite imagery shows that the region's snow cover is ...

Dec 12,2025
Gaza floods captured in verified video and satellite data - BBC News

We've been using a specific type of satellite imagery called Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) to help us uncover which parts of southern Gaza are likely ...

Dec 12,2025
Broadcom earnings, Lululemon CEO steps down, 'fibermaxxing' and more in Morning Squawk

catalyzed the latest wave of worry about artificial intelligence spending. ... A satellite image shows the very large crude carrier (VLCC) Skipper ...

Dec 12,2025
2025: Elections, Weather, Business News Told in Data, Maps and Charts - Bloomberg.com

Satellite analysis measured destruction and displacement in Gaza. We tracked every Trump tariff, and charted where you'll feel a pricing pinch on your ...

Dec 12,2025
Not just Utah: The West is off to its slowest snow collection start in at least 25 years

Snowpack levels are below average to well below average in basins across the West, and snow cover is lowest since a satellite imagery program ...

Dec 12,2025
Indonesia floods were 'extinction level' disturbance for rare orangutan species

But Tapanulis have such a small population and range to begin with that they are especially vulnerable, he added. Satellite imagery shows huge gashes ...

Dec 12,2025
Symposium on Forensic and Counter-Forensic Approaches to International Law: Human-in ...

The 2024 Anatomy of a Genocide report mapped destruction across Gaza through satellite imagery, survivor testimony, and geospatial data, demonstrating ...

Dec 12,2025
Seizure of Venezuelan oil tanker opens more intense phase in Trump's campaign against Maduro

Imagen vía satélite del petrolero Skipper Satellite image of the Skipper oil tanker.2025 PLANET LABS PBC (via REUTERS). Macarena ...

Dec 12,2025
Learn from global experts behind award-winning journalistic investigations - OsloMet

Their involvement ensures that students gain insight into the real methods used in today's most ambitious investigations – from satellite imagery and ...

Dec 12,2025
Sumatran flood disaster may have wiped out key Tapanuli orangutan population

Satellite imagery of the Batang Toru area from Planet reveals the loss of forest cover between November 5 (top) and December 5 (bottom). Image ...

Dec 12,2025
Ateneo, Manila Observatory track down elusive rain-triggering 'shear lines' | News

This HIMAWARI8 satellite image for January 16, 2017, shows cold cloud tops and deep convection attributed to a shear line, indicated by the white ...

Dec 12,2025
Satellite Launches
NASA Satellite Images Could Soon Lead to Safer Bridges Worldwide

The researchers hope to soon begin using data from the recently-launched NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite, jointly operated by ...

Dec 12,2025
What is a hostile takeover? What to know about Paramount's bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery

Paramount in recent days launched a hostile takeover bid to acquire ... Satellite images suggest seized tanker manipulated its location data.

Dec 12,2025
US Space Force is installing a 'next level' system to combat drones near Cape Canaveral ...

... satellite into orbit launches from LC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force ... images taken between 2002 and 2021. Satellite constellations could ...

Dec 12,2025
Satellite firm, NGO team up to boost blue carbon monitoring in Indonesia

A European satellite analytics company this week partnered with a conservation group in Indonesia to deploy “hyperspectral imaging” and AI to track ...

Dec 12,2025
Study: Current, future megaconstellations risk space-based astronomy - Spaceflight Now

... images will increase very soon.” This assessment comes as SpaceX recently launched its 3,000th Starlink satellite ... satellites in 2026 using its ...

Dec 12,2025
South Africa eases ownership rules, opening door for Starlink and other foreign operators

Starlink satellites launch from Cape Canaveral. The SpaceX Falcon 9 ... New Epstein images released by House Oversight Committee Democrats.

Dec 12,2025
Geospatial constellation operator Satellogic: $90M stock offering provides enough cash for ...

LA PLATA, Maryland — Satellite geospatial imaging constellation operator Satellogic Inc. ... satellite, launch and the international space businesses.

Dec 12,2025
Dark Fleet Tanker Spoofing Exposed Off Venezuela - Inside GNSS

Off the coast of Venezuela, U.S. forces seized the tanker Skipper in a helicopter-launched ... Satellite imagery and independent confirmation from ...

Dec 12,2025
Investors commit quarter-billion dollars to startup designing “Giga” satellites - Ars Technica

K2's Gravitas satellite, set for launch early next year, will test the company's Hall-effect thruster, solar arrays, and other systems. Credit: K2.

Dec 12,2025
Dazzled by the vision of 1000s of satellites for orbital data centers, Planet gins up prospects ...

... imaging business · Back to square one? Maybe not, but EU governments ... satellite, launch and the international space businesses. He is a must ...

Dec 12,2025
Three Iranian Satellites Riding on Russia's Soyuz - WANA News

The “Simorgh” satellite carrier launched at an undisclosed location in ... Paya, developed by Iran Electronics Industries, is equipped with imaging ...

Dec 12,2025
Late-night launch in California. What time is liftoff for SpaceX rocket? - Ventura County Star

The mission's purpose is to deliver another batch of Starlink internet satellites into low-Earth orbit. The launch window is set for the night of ...

Dec 12,2025
SpaceX, ULA may launch 3 rockets within 14 hours from Cape Canaveral, Florida

... Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. These missions will carry Starlink internet satellites and Amazon Leo internet satellites into orbit. The launches ...

Dec 12,2025
Computers and You! Soar Together Family Activities | National Air and Space Museum

space shuttle launch. Dive deep into air and space. Browse ... Satellites take high-resolution images of disaster areas, like floods or wildfires.

Dec 12,2025
China launches new batch of internet satellites | News.az

The rocket lifted off at 7:00 a.m. from the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site, News.Az reports, citing Xinhua. The payload, the 16th group ...

Dec 12,2025
Blue Origin targeting Dec. 18 for historic 1st spaceflight of wheelchair user | Space

... launches. Blue Origin launches 35th New Shepard flight after long delay ... Satellite trails seen in Hubble Space Telescope images taken between ...

Dec 12,2025
Satellite constellations could obscure most space telescope observations by late 2030s

His team similarly concludes that around 96% of images would bear satellite ... What was the first satellite to launch into space? Victory 1. Sputnik 1.

Dec 12,2025
NASA Advances One Small Explorer Mission Concept, Extends Study for Another

CINEMA proposes a constellation of nine small satellites in polar low Earth orbit, each carrying an energetic particle detector, auroral imager and ...

Dec 12,2025
SpaceX launches Starlink 6-90 mission from Cape Canaveral - Florida Today

Launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 29 Starlink internet satellites into low-Earth orbit. Launch was at 5:01 p.m. EST, Thursday December ...

Dec 12,2025
NASA astrophysics director offers optimistic vision despite budget uncertainty - SpaceNews

In October 2024, NASA chose the Advanced X-ray Imaging Satellite ... Next China launches new Guowang satellites, Long March 12A launch and landing ...

Dec 12,2025
EO-MSI
Dazzled by the vision of 1000s of satellites for orbital data centers, Planet gins up prospects ...

Geospatial constellation operator Satellogic: $90M stock offering provides... December 12, 2025. Norway's Kongsberg, Germany's Helsing & Hensoldt ...

Dec 12,2025
Intuitive Machines and Telespazio to collaborate on lunar satellite networks - SpaceNews

The company said in November it may turn to Lanteris Space Systems, the former Maxar Space Systems satellite manufacturer that Intuitive plans to ...

Dec 12,2025
Geospatial constellation operator Satellogic: $90M stock offering provides enough cash for ...

LA PLATA, Maryland — Satellite geospatial imaging constellation operator Satellogic Inc. said its mid-October public offering of stock at $3.25 ...

Dec 12,2025
Planet Labs Stock Jumps 35% on Record Q3 Revenue Driven by AI Advancements, Acquisitions

'Since the end of the quarter, we have successfully launched another 2 Pelican satellites as well as 36 Super Doves and announced an R&D initiative ...

Dec 12,2025
This incredible map shows the world's 2.75 billion buildings - Fast Company

The team started with daily satellite images from the PlanetScope constellation, which photographs the Earth at roughly 9.8 feet per pixel. Then ...

Dec 12,2025
One Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra variant has emergency satellite connectivity - SamMobile

The Galaxy S26 Ultra's battery capacity and charging speed is confirmed by the CCC. One of its variants also has satellite connectivity.

Dec 12,2025
Is BlackSky Technology Stock Built to Withstand a Pullback? - Trefis

The rally reflects renewed optimism around its AI-driven geospatial intelligence and Gen-3 satellite growth, but big moves like this often invite a ...

Dec 12,2025
Satellite Pierces Through Space to Discover Unexpected Winds and Sloshing Intergalactic Gas

Essential EBIT expertise. In another study based on XRISM's findings, the team dove into Cygnus X-3. The mysterious object is shrouded in dust ...

Dec 12,2025
2026 Market Outlook: Why A Small Slice Of AI Defense Can Pay Off - Seeking Alpha

BlackSky's constellation includes a hefty number of small optical imaging satellites. Previously, their service included their Gen‑2 satellite ...

Dec 12,2025
PL Stock Earnings Review: The Sky's the Limit for Planet Labs - CMC Markets

... satellite constellation and analytics platform. It targets ... Planet Labs, BlackSky and Satellogic all operate within the commercial ...

Dec 12,2025
Keysight and KT SAT demonstrate first multi-orbit satellite handover - Investing.com

Stock under ₹80 jumps 5% after securing contract from JSW Neo Energy ... satellite and an emulated low earth orbit (LEO) link. Keysight ...

Dec 12,2025
Governor awards $350K to Portal Space Systems for Bothell expansion - AeroMorning

First Airbus Eurostar Neo satellite is born · News, Space 11 February 2021. First Airbus Eurostar Neo ...

Dec 12,2025
BlackSky Gen-3 satellite snaps shockingly clear images just 1 day after launch - MSN

Earth imaging company BlackSky has announced the successful deployment of its third Gen-3 imaging satellite, which returned high-resolution ...

Dec 12,2025
How to Text on iPhone Via Satellite - Analytics Insight

Know the Limits of Satellite Messaging: Satellite texting supports ... iQOO Neo 10 · Eight Sleep Pod 4 Cover · Poco C71. Company Profiles⌄. AMD ...

Dec 12,2025
SAR
Rheinmetall charts a course to become the world's second-largest defense company - Harici

... Iceye holds a 40% stake. The initial plan is to produce satellites ... satellite productionSPOCK satellite systemtank productionUVision. MOST ...

Dec 12,2025
Changing Winters Leave Indigenous Alaskans on Thin Ice - Eos.org

Bridging River Wisdom and Climate Data. Researchers compared community observations with data from historical records, satellite measurements, and ...

Dec 12,2025
ICEYE and Esri Australia (through Boustead Geospatial) partner to deliver unprecedented ...

HELSINKI – ICEYE, the global leader in persistent monitoring through synthetic aperture radar satellite imaging and hazard data solutions, today ...

Dec 12,2025
Umbra and Italy's E-GEOS to Co-Develop Geospatial Intelligence Solutions

... Umbra's constellation. Both entities operate synthetic aperture radar (SAR) constellations. e-GEOS is the exclusive licensee of data for ...

Dec 12,2025
Iceye inks deal to expand market access to natural catastrophe risk intelligence

Iceye inks deal to expand market access to natural catastrophe risk intelligence ... Satellite data expert Iceye has secured a new deal with Munich Re- ...

Dec 12,2025
e-GEOS & Umbra Partner to Develop Advanced SAR-Based Geospatial Intelligence Solutions

... Umbra's agile SAR constellation and imagery. In doing so, Umbra and e-GEOS will deliver unprecedented global coverage, giving users faster, more ...

Dec 12,2025
Keysight Technologies, KT-SAT Demonstrate NR-NTN Multi-Orbit Handover Using ... - Via Satellite

Imagery and Sensing Umbra and Italy's E-GEOS to Co-Develop Geospatial Intelligence Solutions ... Keysight Technologies, KT-SAT Demonstrate NR-NTN Multi- ...

Dec 12,2025
Nordic Semiconductor Brings New Direct-to-Satellite IoT Software Kit to Market

Nordic Semiconductor has launched a new software and development kit with satellite at the heart of it ... Imagery and Sensing Umbra and Italy's E-GEOS ...

Dec 12,2025
Leidos delivers successful demonstration of integrated counter-drone capability for ... - EOS-Aus.com

EOS' Slinger remote weapon systems were put through their paces during Exercise Southern Arrow 25 ... Satellite Laser Ranging · Space Sustainability.

Dec 12,2025
Sivers Semiconductors Drives Next-Generation SATCOM Innovation in European Space Program

... satellite communications. The ESA program positions Sivers ... ICEYE Strengthens Sovereign SAR Satellite Capability with New €150M Funding ...

Dec 12,2025
British navy says it tracked Russian sub for three days in Channel - Space War News

SkyFi and ICEYE US roll out direct tasking platform for SAR satellite imagery · Anguished Sri Lankans queue for care after deadly cyclone. All rights ...

Dec 12,2025
Kuva Space Links Up with WWF-Indonesia on Carbon Monitoring - Via Satellite

Imagery and Sensing Umbra and Italy's E-GEOS to Co-Develop Geospatial Intelligence Solutions ... The initiative will use satellite data and AI to help ...

Dec 12,2025
Starcloud Achieves Historic Milestone with First Space-Based Large Language Model Training

For example, the satellite can analyze imagery from Capella Space's satellites, identifying offshore vessel capsizing incidents or forest fires ...

Dec 12,2025
SSA

Questions about Commercial Innovation Center (CIC)