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
VEON's Beeline Kazakhstan Partners with Starlink Direct to - GlobeNewswire

... Intelligence and Digital Development. November 06, 2025 15:00 ET ... satellite connectivity. Following the commercial agreement signed in ...

Nov 7,2025
Satellite images show widespread destruction following deadly UPS plane crash in Louisville - WLKY

Newly released satellite images are showing the scale of destruction left behind after a UPS cargo plane crashed in Louisville on Wednesday.

Nov 7,2025
Stunning map of ancient roads will give you a good reason to think about the Roman Empire ... - CNN

Laying the groundwork for the map, named Itiner-e, required the researchers to cross-reference many historical records as well as satellite imagery, ...

Nov 7,2025
Live coverage: Atlas 5 makes another try to launch ViaSat-3 F2 communications satellite

... satellite to a geosynchronous transfer orbit. Image: Adam Bernstein / Spaceflight Now. United Launch Alliance is counting down to a second launch ...

Nov 7,2025
U.S. Sends Attack Aircraft to El Salvador Amid Regional Troop Buildup

A New York Times analysis of satellite imagery and air traffic control communications found that U.S. military planes began operating out of the ...

Nov 7,2025
New satellite images suggest 'mass graves' in Sudan's El-Fasher | Arab News

PORT SUDAN: New satellite imagery has detected activity “consistent with mass graves” in the Sudanese city of El-Fasher, Yale researchers said in ...

Nov 7,2025
'Google Maps' for Roman roads reveals vast extent of ancient network - Nature

They then compared this information to modern and historical aerial photographs, topographical maps and satellite imagery. The team digitized each ...

Nov 7,2025
Sudan Crisis: Recent Satellite Pictures Reveal Massive Graves In The City Of El Fasher, Watch

Recent satellite imagery and eyewitness accounts suggest that paramilitary forces have been digging more mass graves to cover up atrocities ...

Nov 7,2025
Apple slapped with $261K fine over controversial Bay Area industrial site - SFGATE

Apple's facility at 3250 Scott Boulevard, in Santa Clara, California, is shown at the center of this satellite image, across the road from apartment ...

Nov 7,2025
Satellite image of livestock in Sudan misinterpreted as mass graves - Truth or Fake

But according to satellite image analysts, this images are dated and in fact depict livestock. We spoke directly to the expert involved in this fact- ...

Nov 7,2025
Satellite image of livestock in Sudan misinterpreted as mass graves • FRANCE 24 English

But according to satellite image analysts, this images are dated and in ... Satellite image of livestock in Sudan misinterpreted as mass graves ...

Nov 7,2025
Hurricane Melissa Devastates Multiple Islands in the Caribbean - JW.ORG

Inset: A satellite image of the Category 5 hurricane shortly before it made landfall in Jamaica. Hurricane Melissa Devastates Multiple Islands in ...

Nov 7,2025
GreenAnt's AI mines radar data to predict floods and boost yields - AgTech Navigator

Unlike traditional satellite imagery, which often relies on optical data and is easily obstructed by clouds, darkness, or dense vegetation, SAR ...

Nov 7,2025
BlackSky hit by U.S. budget cuts, but international demand lifts outlook - SpaceNews

WASHINGTON — Satellite imagery company BlackSky said Nov. 6 that revenue fell short of expectations in the third quarter as U.S. government ...

Nov 7,2025
Itiner-e: A high-resolution dataset of roads of the Roman Empire | Scientific Data - Nature

In these cases, we relied on historical topographic maps or historical satellite imagery (especially Corona satellite photography for the Near East, ...

Nov 7,2025
Meteorological Department updates latest satellite images and Typhoon Kalmaegi path on Nov 6

Meteorological Department releases latest satellite images and Typhoon Kalmaegi path on Nov 6, warning of evening rain in Ubon Ratchathani and ...

Nov 7,2025
VEON's Beeline Kazakhstan Partners with Starlink Direct to Cell to Launch Satellite ...

... Intelligence and Digital Development. Almaty and Washington, DC ... satellite connectivity. Following the commercial agreement signed in ...

Nov 7,2025
Amazon lakes hit 'unbearable' hot-tub temperatures amid mass die-offs of pink river dolphins – study

... image of a lake amid a green expanse, showing water retreating at one. View image in fullscreen. A satellite image from August 2024 of Lake Tefé ...

Nov 7,2025
A Satellite Spotted a Lump in the Ground. It Was the Grave of an Ancient Warrior.

The find came thanks to the Hungarian National Museum's Cemeteries from Space program, which uses satellite imagery to pinpoint potential ...

Nov 7,2025
Stooges Bar and Grill owner posts statement on UPS plane crash - WAVE 3 News

Vantor collected new satellite imagery (November 5, 2025, at 11:06 AM ... preloaded gallery image. Vantor collected new satellite imagery ...

Nov 7,2025
Satellite Launches
US military launches unarmed nuclear missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base

... Launches & Spacecraft SpaceX launches 21 communications satellites for the US military (video) ... images of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. 5. Space ...

Nov 7,2025
another big investment for the airline as part of its £7bn transformation journey

Starlink is the world's most advanced satellite constellation in low-Earth orbit, delivering reliable broadband internet capable of supporting ...

Nov 7,2025
Could the shutdown impact rocket launch cadence? - Spectrum News 13

Starlink missions could also be impacted if the Federal Communications Commission isn't able to approve the broadband internet satellite launches ...

Nov 7,2025
Trump says he was 'very much in charge' of Israel's June 13 attack on Iran - Al Jazeera

What do satellite images of Fordow show? How Trump rejoined 'team' Netanyahu · What is the Fordow nuclear facility? A simple guide to Iran · News ...

Nov 7,2025
Blastoff! SpaceX launches 28 Starlink satellites from California, nail landing - YouTube

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 28 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Nov. 6, 2025 at 4:13 p.m. EST (2113 GMT ...

Nov 7,2025
SpaceX launches 28 Starlink satellites from California's central coast | Space

... images of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS · A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 28 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

Nov 7,2025
BlackSky hit by U.S. budget cuts, but international demand lifts outlook - SpaceNews

WASHINGTON — Satellite imagery company BlackSky said Nov. 6 that ... Two Gen-3 satellites have launched this year aboard Rocket Lab rockets ...

Nov 7,2025
Meet Blue and Gold: NASA's first twin satellites bound for Mars | Popular Science

Currently scheduled to launch no earlier than Sunday November 9 from ... 18 jaw-dropping images from the 2025 ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year ...

Nov 7,2025
ESA's HydroGNSS Scout satellites ready for launch - GPS World

Two European Space Agency (ESA) microsatellites will soon be launched to study climate variables linked to water using GNSS reflectometry.

Nov 7,2025
China's Tianwen 1 Mars probe captures images of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS | Space

... launched in May and is on its way to sample a near-Earth asteroid ... satellite collision in 1st-of-its-kind space cooperation. 5. HoverAir X1 ...

Nov 7,2025
NASA's ESCAPADE mission to Mars—twin satellites dubbed Blue and Gold will launch in ...

40 minutes ago. Space dust reveals Arctic ice conditions before satellite imaging. 51 minutes ago. Physicists observe key evidence of unconventional ...

Nov 7,2025
Here's what the spiral light in the sky over Connecticut this week was - Greenwich Time

The glowing spiral light in the sky was caused by rocket exhaust from the launch of the Ariane 6 rocket in French Guiana ... satellite into orbit, ...

Nov 7,2025
China reached out to NASA to avoid a potential satellite collision in 1st-of-its-kind space cooperation

Andrew first caught the space bug when, as a youngster, he saw Voyager images of other worlds in our solar system for the first time. Away from space, ...

Nov 7,2025
Satellite images show dramatic growth of China's military production sites - CNN

... launched ballistic missile is. Video Ad Feedback. Satellite images show dramatic growth of China's military production sites. 3:15. Now playing.

Nov 7,2025
Students' satellite will blast into space, collect data for NASA's IMAP mission - SSU News

Launched following its selection as part of NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative, the satellite will travel to the Earth's upper atmosphere, known as ...

Nov 7,2025
3 Chinese astronauts stranded in space station after debris strikes return capsule

... Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Oct. 31, 2025. Xinhua/Shutterstock ... images. Previous Image Next Image. More Stories. Page Six ...

Nov 7,2025
ULA scrubs satellite, will try again Thursday from Cape Canaveral - Yahoo

The Atlas V will launch the ViaSat-3 F2 ultra-high-capacity broadband satellite. ... NASA under pressure to release latest images of 'alien' comet.

Nov 7,2025
Blastoff! Rocket Lab launches Japanese Earth-observation satellite - YouTube

A Rocket Lab Electron rocket launched the QPS-SAR-14 satellite, nicknamed Yachihoko-I, from Rocket Lab's New Zealand site on Nov.

Nov 7,2025
From floods to volcanoes: new eye on earth with Sentinel 1-D satellite - Il Sole 24 ORE

It is the satellite launched on board an Ariane 6 rocket and ... imaging capabilities, replacing Sentinel-1A launched in 2014". Data to ...

Nov 7,2025
Blue Origin's second New Glenn launch will carry real NASA satellites - Engadget

Colorado aerospace company Advanced Space designed Escapade's trajectory for Mars missions that do not launch within that timeframe. The satellites ...

Nov 7,2025
EO-MSI
BlackSky Technology Reports Strong Q3 2025 Results - TipRanks.com

The company is known for its advanced satellite constellation and analytics software platform. In its third-quarter 2025 earnings report, BlackSky ...

Nov 7,2025
In fallen city stained by blood, latest images reveal grim development in El-Fasher, Sudan

New satellite images appear to show mass burials being conducted ... Maxar Technologies. Those images appeared to show mass graves being dug ...

Nov 7,2025
FCC commissioner warns U.S. influence on satellite spectrum debates could wane

Previous BlackSky hit by U.S. budget cuts, but international demand lifts outlook. Stellar Dispatch. all dispatches >>. Geopolitical Shifts and AI ...

Nov 7,2025
BlackSky Technology Inc (BKSY) Q3 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: - GuruFocus

BlackSky Technology Inc (BKSY) is making progress on its Gen 3 constellation, with the latest satellite at the launch site and plans to have a ...

Nov 7,2025
BlackSky hit by U.S. budget cuts, but international demand lifts outlook - SpaceNews

WASHINGTON — Satellite imagery company BlackSky said Nov. 6 that revenue fell short of expectations in the third quarter as U.S. government ...

Nov 7,2025
BlackSky anticipates strong Q4 and targets over $200M liquidity as Gen-3 demand accelerates

... satellite production capabilities." O'Toole announced that BlackSky ... BlackSky ended Q3 2025 with $147.6 million of cash, restricted cash ...

Nov 7,2025
BlackSky Technology Inc. (BKSY) Q3 2025 Earnings Call Transcript | Seeking Alpha

Fifth, our Gen-3 constellation continues to expand. Our latest satellite is at the launch site, and we're excited to get the satellite launched as we ...

Nov 7,2025
OriginOS 6 update confirmed for iQOO Neo 7 and iQOO Neo 7 Pro - MobiGyaan

At launch, iQOO had promised two major Android updates and three years of security patches for the Neo 7 series. Both phones shipped with Android 13 ( ...

Nov 7,2025
Neo (TSX:NEO) Performance Materials Surges on TSX Smallcap Index Today

Neo (TSX:NEO) Performance Materials Surges on TSX Smallcap Index Today ... Constellation Software Inc. TC Energy Corp · Suncor Energy Inc.

Nov 7,2025
Maharashtra becomes first Indian state to partner with Starlink for Satellite Internet rollout

Maharashtra has become the first Indian state to sign a formal agreement with Elon Musk's Starlink, setting the stage for a statewide satellite ...

Nov 7,2025
Rheinmetall Nears First Satellite-Making Deal | Aviation Week Network

Rheinmetall Nears First Satellite-Making Deal ... Related Content. blacksky earth imaging photo · BlackSky Sees International Sales Topping U.S. ...

Nov 7,2025
Countering missile threats with enhanced warning and tracking payloads

The FORGE Framework processes satellite data from both the Space Force's SBIRS constellation ... WorldView Legion® Earth-Observation program. WorldView ...

Nov 7,2025
Q3 2025 Blacksky Technology Inc Earnings Call Transcript - GuruFocus

Good morning ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Black Sky Technologies 3rd quarter 2025 earnings conference call. All lines have been placed on mute ...

Nov 7,2025
Lanteris, Formerly a Maxar Company, To Be Acquired by Intuitive Machines - Dealbreaker

Based in Palo Alto, Calif., Lanteris manufactures and operates satellite systems. L3Harris last year chose Maxar Space as a subcontractor to build 18 ...

Nov 7,2025
BlackSky Reports Third Quarter 2025 Results

Company Wins Over $60 Million in Contract Awards Next Very-High Resolution Gen-3 Satellite is at the Launch Site Company Maintains 2025 Outlook.

Nov 7,2025
Space Stock Tracker—BlackSky, Redwire Dump After Earnings; AST, Rocket Lab On Deck

The mission, called "The Nation God Navigates," lifted off from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand and delivered the QPS-SAR-14 satellite (YACHIHOKO-I) ...

Nov 7,2025
BlackSky Technology Inc. (BKSY) Q3 FY2025 earnings call transcript - Yahoo Finance

Our latest satellite is at the launch site, and we're excited to get this satellite launched as we move forward in our plans to have a baseline Gen-3 ...

Nov 7,2025
BlackSky Misses Revenue Targets But Lands Big New Contracts - Finimize

Governments are doubling down on cutting-edge satellite tech, boosting budgets and speeding up timelines for new deployments. BlackSky's fresh wins ...

Nov 7,2025
BlackSky Q3 2025 slides: International contracts surge as stock tumbles 20%

BlackSky continues to expand its Gen-3 constellation, with the next satellite at the launch site and expected to launch within weeks. The company ...

Nov 7,2025
Putin blow as Ukrainian drone barrage on Russian oil refinery causes massive fire

Satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies, published on November 6, revealed destruction to storage containers and a processing facility, reports ...

Nov 7,2025
SAR
Rheinmetall Nears First Satellite-Making Deal | Aviation Week Network

The company in September agreed to set up a joint venture with Iceye to build synthetic aperture radars (SAR) in Germany. The venture could ...

Nov 7,2025
EOS Falls 11.48% In Bearish Trade - Investing.com Canada

EOS Falls 11.48% In Bearish Trade. ... Celestica Inc. 484.41, -2.57%. 380.86K. Constellation Software. 3,402.20 ...

Nov 7,2025
Q3 2025 Blacksky Technology Inc Earnings Call Transcript - GuruFocus

Recall that Eos is a new satellite designed to provide wide area mapping, monitoring, and change detection. To address an anticipated GAAP in these ...

Nov 7,2025
Students' satellite will blast into space, collect data for NASA's IMAP mission - SSU News

... satellite, which was named 3UCubed – reflecting the overall ... https://eos.unh.edu/3ucubed. Jeff Keating keatingje@sonoma.edu · Copy Link ...

Nov 7,2025
Finnish Iceye unveils 'guaranteed' imagery service as satellite firms vie for defense customers

18K subscribers in the EU_Economics community. Evidence first. A 2024 University of Amsterdam study (source: ...

Nov 7,2025
The reaction to the Isaacman re-nomination as NASA Administrator - YouTube

... Iceye is giving defense customers guaranteed access to radar imagery ... satellite Wednesday. - SpaceX launched more Starlink satellites ...

Nov 7,2025
Space42 reports nine-month earnings, lays foundation for sustainable growth

... ICEYE and tested at the Middle East's first commercial Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite manufacturing facility with ADIO support. • Signed an ...

Nov 7,2025
T-Mobile brings free 911 emergency texting to AT&T and Verizon customers | The Verge

T-Mobile is allowing more people to use its Starlink-powered satellite network to text 911. Now, anyone with a compatible phone can sign up for ...

Nov 7,2025
What Tumbling Asteroids Tell Us About Their Innards - Eos.org

... Eos, 106, https://doi.org/10.1029/2025EO250414. Published on 6 ... Space Weather Monitoring from Commercial Satellite Mega-Constellations.

Nov 7,2025
Turning Real-Time Satellite Data into a Competitive Advantage - Harvard Business Review

Commercial Earth-observation data provider Capella Space's Analytics Partner Program, for example, empowers companies to develop AI-driven geospatial ...

Nov 7,2025
ESA & Arianespace Launches Copernicus Sentinel-1D Earth-Observation Satellite Aboard ...

... Satellite (EOS) to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) aboard the Ariane 6 rocket from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. The Sentinel-1D EOS is ...

Nov 7,2025
Space Brief 6 Nov 2025 - KeepTrack

... satellite technology. Today's briefing covers Iceye's new aerospace service for defense clients, ESA's plan for dual-. Top Stories. Iceye Launches ...

Nov 7,2025
MDA Space invests $10m in Maritime Launch Services - BroadcastPro ME

Related Posts · MDA Space completes acquisition of SatixFy · Airbus to provide solar arrays for MDA Aurora satellite constellation · EOS-X SPACE to ...

Nov 7,2025
Rocket Lab launches sixth iQPS satellite - SpaceNews

A Rocket Lab Electron rocket launched a radar imaging satellite for Japanese company iQPS on Nov. 5 ... Previous Iceye unveils 'guaranteed' imagery ...

Nov 7,2025
Iceye unveils 'guaranteed' imagery service as satellite firms vie for defense customers

Earth observation companies shift business models to capture growing demand for sovereign geospatial intelligence capabilities The post Iceye ...

Nov 7,2025
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Questions about Commercial Innovation Center (CIC)