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
Mexico Launches Coatlicue: Latin America's Biggest Supercomputer

... satellite imaging, genomic research, and administrative registries. To accelerate the transition toward sovereign HPC capabilities, Mexico entered ...

Nov 26,2025
Western wildfire damage mounts, senators demand Congress fund repairs - SFGATE

A satellite image shows the Bear Gulch Fire near Olympic National Park, which smoldered from early July into late fall in 2025, burning more than ...

Nov 26,2025
Satellite Photo Captures China's D-Day Invasion Drills - Newsweek

New satellite imagery shows China testing its landing barges, which analysts say appear tailor-made for an invasion of Taiwan.

Nov 26,2025
These Are Some of the Highest-Resolution Radar Images Ever Taken | PetaPixel

Satellite image showing a snow-covered mountain range bordered by dark, icy waters and Antarctic Peninsula by Sentinel-1D | ESA A grayscale aerial ...

Nov 26,2025
South Korea's largest satellite launched on Nuri rocket in ambitious space mission

South Korea launched its largest satellite yet on its nationally developed space rocket early Thursday, the fourth of six planned launches through ...

Nov 26,2025
DRC hit by record deforestation in 2024, satellite data show - Mongabay

Simon Schweitzer, an IPIS GIS analyst who was involved in satellite imagery analysis for the PAX report, says dredges used in semi-industrial ...

Nov 26,2025
The Destruction of a Notorious Myanmar Scam Compound Appears to Have Been 'Performative'

Satellite view of the compound.Satellite image ©2025 Vantor. Save this story. Save this story. After Myanmar's military junta raided a notorious scam ...

Nov 26,2025
South Korea launches Earth-observation satellite on homegrown Nuri rocket - Space

South Korea lofted the CAS500-3 Earth-observation satellite and a dozen ride-along cubesats Wednesday (Nov. 26) on the fourth-ever launch of its ...

Nov 26,2025
Florida finally got a break in the 2025 hurricane season | WFSU News

Satellite view of Hurricane Florence over the Atlantic close to the US coast in 2018. Elements of this image furnished by NASA. Gov. Ron DeSantis drew ...

Nov 26,2025
Flight - Recent satellite imagery indicates China's next carrier, the Type 004, could be its first ...

Recent satellite imagery indicates China's next carrier, the Type 004, could be its first to use nuclear propulsion.

Nov 26,2025
Recent satellite imagery indicates China's next carrier, the Type 004, could be its first to use ...

Recent satellite imagery indicates China's next carrier, the Type 004, could be its first to use nuclear propulsion. Analysis by The War Zone ...

Nov 26,2025
AI for Advancing Inclusion: Minister George Outlines Ghana's Strategy for Localized and ...

AI supports precision farming, improves access to commodity exchanges, and leverages satellite imagery to optimize soil testing and crop planning.

Nov 26,2025
Israel fortifying outposts in southern Lebanon in violation of ceasefire: Satellite imagery

Satellite imagery analysis reveals that Israel continues to occupy and fortify positions in southern Lebanon.

Nov 26,2025
Satellite radar advances carbon emissions accountability over tropical peat - Nature

... satellite L-band Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar as a solution ... image. Using an InSAR time series analysis approach (see Methods) ...

Nov 26,2025
Heritage Preservation, Changing Transportation Corridors, and Ocean Monitoring | Geo Week News

A look at the latest news and stories from around the geospatial, AEC, and 3D industries. ... Earth Observation & Satellite Applications ...

Nov 26,2025
New satellite images show North Korea building secret uranium enrichment plant

New satellite imagery suggests North Korea is building a new uranium enrichment plant at one of its nuclear sites, part of Kim Jong Un's 2025 plan ...

Nov 26,2025
Unique Russian A-60 Laser Testbed Jet Destroyed In Ukrainian Attack - The War Zone

We now have the first known commercial satellite imagery of the two Chinese sixth-generation · China's New Tailless Stealth Fighters Both Appear At ...

Nov 26,2025
China & Taiwan Update, November 25, 2025 | American Enterprise Institute - AEI

Satellite imagery from BlackSky Technology showed the cargo ships ... The PLA has used RORO ships to launch amphibious landing craft in past exercises, ...

Nov 26,2025
Ukrainian Strike on Beriev Plant Destroys Russian Laser and AEW Testbeds

... satellite imagery depicts the destruction of two Ilyushin Il-76 type aircraft. Upon closer inspection, cross-referencing with historical imagery ...

Nov 26,2025
This project is using AI and satellite data to create the first definitive map of the entire ...

Now a new plan is underway to map the entire continent using satellite data and AI. “Maybe 90% of African countries don't have access to an accurate ...

Nov 26,2025
Satellite Launches
Poland's military satellites face another delay after aborted launch - TVP World

... imaging satellite built by Polish-Finnish company ICEYE, a constellation of three PIAST satellites and a nanosatellite developed by Wrocław-based ...

Nov 26,2025
Inside NASA's climate space jam - Politico

The satellite launches don't mean it's business as usual again at NASA. ... images via iStock). Green groups nervously eye Greenpeace pipeline battle

Nov 26,2025
Mexico Launches Coatlicue: Latin America's Biggest Supercomputer

... satellite imaging, genomic research, and administrative registries. To accelerate the transition toward sovereign HPC capabilities, Mexico entered ...

Nov 26,2025
NASA Cost-Saving Technology Demo is Ready for Launch

A NASA small satellite is set to launch on a commercial rideshare mission to test rapid, low-cost deployment of multiple technology prototypes in ...

Nov 26,2025
SpaceX scrubs launch of 140 satellites atop used Falcon 9 rocket from California coast

... satellites, Earth-observation spacecraft and other vehicles. The Earth imaging company Planet Labs, for example, has 36 small "SuperDove ...

Nov 26,2025
BlackSky quickly delivers first very high-resolution images - TimesTech

... satellite less than 24 hours following the satellite's successful launch in November. The company's advanced, low-latency commercial architecture ...

Nov 26,2025
All.Space Hydra Max Terminal Achieves TRL 6 in US Army NGTT Program - Via Satellite

Latest News. Imagery and Sensing BlackSky Releases First Images from New Gen-3 Satellite After Undisclosed Launch · Technology Calian to Deliver ...

Nov 26,2025
US Launches Secretive Space Interceptor Program to Kill Nuclear Missiles at Liftoff

Satellite Images Reveal Crippled Russian Warship Towed After Ukrainian Strike on Novorossiysk. Nov 26, 2025 20:09. Moldova Displays Downed Russian ...

Nov 26,2025
AST SpaceMobile Adds Manufacturing Sites in Texas and Florida - Via Satellite

Latest News. Imagery and Sensing BlackSky Releases First Images from New Gen-3 Satellite After Undisclosed Launch ... satellites — is set to launch on ...

Nov 26,2025
Formosat-8 slated for launch today - Taipei Times

The Chi Po-lin satellite also carries a dual-band ionospheric transient imager and an electron temperature and density probe — developed by a ...

Nov 26,2025
These Are Some of the Highest-Resolution Radar Images Ever Taken | PetaPixel

The European Space Agency's (ESA) brand-new Copernicus Sentinel-1D satellite launched into space aboard the Ariane 6 launcher from Europe's ...

Nov 26,2025
SpaceX's Falcon 9 set to launch 140 payloads on Transporter-15 - NASASpaceFlight.com

Planet Labs, an Earth imaging company based in San Francisco, will launch 36 SuperDove satellites (Flock 4H) on the Transporter-15 mission. Its ...

Nov 26,2025
South Korea's Nuri rocket places 13 satellites into orbit - Anadolu Ajansı

... satellites in its fourth launch, according to space authorities. ... Anadolu Images · Energy Terminal · AA Academy · Green Line · Discrimination Line.

Nov 26,2025
South Korea's fourth space rocket launch successful, sends satellites into orbit | Reuters

South Korea successfully launched its fourth homegrown space rocket Nuri on Thursday and put more than a dozen satellites into orbit, ...

Nov 26,2025
South Korea launches Earth-observation satellite on homegrown Nuri rocket - Space

South Korea lofted the CAS500-3 Earth-observation satellite and a dozen ride-along cubesats Wednesday (Nov. 26) on the fourth-ever launch of its ...

Nov 26,2025
South Korea's largest satellite launched on Nuri rocket in ambitious space mission

South Korea launched its largest satellite yet on its nationally developed space rocket early Thursday, the fourth of six planned launches through ...

Nov 26,2025
Live coverage: SpaceX to launch dozens of smallsats on Transporter-15 rideshare flight

... Imaging constellation as well as a pair of Pelican satellites. This latest batch of 36 Flock satellites is referred to as Flock 4H. Planet Labs ...

Nov 26,2025
Sentinel-1D delivers first images: from Antarctica to Bremen - ESA

... launch to data delivery for a radar-based Earth observation satellite. ... launched, it delivered its first radar images within two hours of activation.

Nov 26,2025
European Space Agency gives capitals a year to make funding call on military satellite plan

(Photo by Annette Riedl/picture alliance via Getty Images). Lorem ... European Space Agency launches into defence with military satellite plan.

Nov 26,2025
Engaged Buddhism: INEB Launches Emergency Appeal to Assist Female Monastics After ...

In response to devastating floods in southern Thailand, INEB has launched ... Satellite imagery shows the impact area has now reached 10 of Thailand's ...

Nov 26,2025
EO-MSI
Blue Origin to Integrate Optical Payload on Blue Ring Vehicle for Space Domain Awareness Mission

Imagery and Sensing BlackSky Releases First Images from New Gen-3 Satellite After Undisclosed Launch · Technology Calian to Deliver Four Gateways ...

Nov 26,2025
All.Space Hydra Max Terminal Achieves TRL 6 in US Army NGTT Program - Via Satellite

Latest News. Imagery and Sensing BlackSky Releases First Images from New Gen-3 Satellite After Undisclosed Launch · Technology Calian to Deliver Four ...

Nov 26,2025
Editor's Picks 138: néomí, Dove Ellis, St. Panther, JERUB, Chrissy, & JOSEPH!

... Satellite. S.G. Goodman. 03:42. 81. People Talk To People. Nii. 03:05 ... Dove Ellis Love Is – Dove Ellis. The song itself is a study in emotional ...

Nov 26,2025
Live coverage: SpaceX to launch dozens of smallsats on Transporter-15 rideshare flight

Planet Labs' Earth imaging constellation consists of Flock, Dove and SuperDove satellites, which began launching in 2013. Spire, a data and ...

Nov 26,2025
Satellite Manufacturing and Launch Systems Market to Reach $130.2 billion, Globally, by ...

Maxar Technologies Inc. Blue Origin; SpaceX; Boeing; Northrop Grumman; ISRO; Rocket Lab. The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players ...

Nov 26,2025
A surprise announcement just five hours before launch: How BlackSky and Rocket Lab ...

Rocket Lab Reveals Details of Secret Launch: BlackSky Gen-3 Satellite Shares First Images BlackSky has released its first images from the new ...

Nov 26,2025
New satellite images show North Korea building secret uranium enrichment plant

... NEO © Airbus DS 2025. Annotation by 38 North). Satellite images also show a rapid expansion of radioactive-waste storage near Yongbyon's Old Waste ...

Nov 26,2025
Spainsat NG Programme Completed As Second Secure Communicati - ASDNews

Their coverage extends across Europe, the Americas, Africa, and parts of the Middle East and Asia. Commercial and Military Satellite ...

Nov 26,2025
Neo Raises $25 Mn In Follow-on Round Led By Crystal Investment Advisors - BW Disrupt

Neo secures USD 25 million in a follow-on round led by Crystal ... Ulook Secures Rs 19 Cr Seed To Develop Autonomous Satellite Swarms For RF ...

Nov 26,2025
BlackSky Gen-3 Satellite Snaps Shockingly Clear Images Just 1 Day After Launch

BlackSky satellite view of Dubai Port. Credit: BlackSky. Earth imaging company BlackSky has announced the successful deployment of its third Gen-3 ...

Nov 26,2025
BlackSky Gen-3 Satellite Snaps Shockingly Clear Images Just 1 Day After Launch

BlackSky satellite view of Dubai Port. High-resolution image captured over the Port of Jebel Ali in Dubai. Credit: BlackSky.

Nov 26,2025
Eruption of long-dormant Ethiopian volcano subsides | The Manila Times

This satellite image released by NASA Worldview shows the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia erupting on Nov. 23, 2025. NASA WORLDVIEW VIA AP. World ...

Nov 26,2025
Eruption of long-dormant Ethiopian volcano subsides | WETM - MyTwinTiers.com

This satellite image released by NASA Worldview shows the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia erupting on Nov. 23, 2025. (NASA Worldview via AP). by ...

Nov 26,2025
BlackSky quickly delivers first very high-resolution images - TimesTech

BlackSky Technology delivered the first very high-resolution images from the company's third Gen-3 satellite less than 24 hours.

Nov 26,2025
Eruption of long-dormant Ethiopian volcano subsides - The Hill

... This satellite image released by NASA ...

Nov 26,2025
Ethiopian volcano subsides, leaving a trail of disruption and canceled flights

This satellite image released by NASA Worldview shows the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia erupting on Nov. 23, 2025. (NASA Worldview via Associated ...

Nov 26,2025
Eruption of long-dormant Ethiopian volcano subsides | The Seattle Times

... Worldview shows the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia erupting on Nov. 23, 2025. (NASA Worldview via AP). This satellite image released by NASA ...

Nov 26,2025
Eruption of long-dormant Ethiopian volcano subsides - Stuff

This satellite image released by NASA Worldview shows the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia erupting on Nov. 23, 2025. (NASA Worldview via AP)AP.

Nov 26,2025
BlackSky Beams Gen-3 Images Home at Record Speed

The Gen-3 satellite was revealed to be the confidential commercial payload aboard Thursday's Electron rocket launch, on a mission aptly called “Follow ...

Nov 26,2025
New BlackSky satellite delivers rapid high-resolution imagery of strategic port operations

BlackSky Technology Inc. has provided the first set of very high-resolution images from its third Gen-3 satellite less than 24 hours after launch.

Nov 26,2025
SAR
European telcos' call to arms: DT in defence collab talks with Rheinmetall - TelcoTitans.com

... ICEYE to create a sovereign 'data-as-a-service' surveillance capability ... Rheinmetall, he said, has been seeking to form pacts with various satellite ...

Nov 26,2025
Remote Sensing Satellite Market to Reach USD 122.86 Billion by 2033 at 12.56% CAGR

... ICEYE, Capella Space, and Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL). Future Outlook. The Remote Sensing Satellite Market is poised for sustained ...

Nov 26,2025
Finland Seeks Allied Cooperation on Space-Based Surveillance in the High North

ICEYE owns and operates the world's largest synthetic aperture radar satellite constellation. ... As of today, ICEYE has a constellation of 54 ...

Nov 26,2025
Morning briefing: Cordiant Digital returns 10% in six months; Seraphim's ICEYE valuation cut 6%

ICEYE, the Finnish satellite constellation operator that accounts for 34.7% of the portfolio after a 70% valuation hike in the previous quarter ...

Nov 26,2025
Constellation-class implosion jeopardizes US naval superiority - Asia Times

Japan's IHI to build spy satellites with Finland's ICEYE · Stablecoins latest reason to worry about the dollar · China's flaring struggles reignite ...

Nov 26,2025
World's First 3D Bioprinted Corneal Implant Successfully Implanted in Phase 1 Patient

EOS Zone · HP · Stratasys · Wurth Additive Group · 3D Systems · AMS · Rapid ... AMR Satellite · AMR Data Center · AMR Satellite · EOS · HP Produce ...

Nov 26,2025
Formnext 2025: Day Four: Beauty the World (Through Missile Defense) - 3DPrint.com

The EOS Onyx was a long-sought-after clear improvement for the ... AMR Satellite · AMR Data Center · AMR Satellite · EOS · HP Produce Locally · RAPID + ...

Nov 26,2025
EOS fined $4 million for breaching disclosure requirements - APDR

Space, communications and defence systems manufacturer Electro Optic Systems (EOS) has admitted breaching its disclosure obligations.

Nov 26,2025
Eruption of long-dormant Ethiopian volcano subsides | WOWK 13 News

... This satellite image released by NASA Worldview ...

Nov 26,2025
Bolivia's new president plans to scrap taxes and borrow money to confront economic crisis

... Satellite · Pinpoint Weather App · QC Homegrown · Traffic · Charlotte ... LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — President Rodrigo Paz of Bolivia said Tuesday he ...

Nov 26,2025
UAE Shifts Space Focus To Economy And Security | Aviation Week Network

The UAE space company has been deploying its own SAR constellation working with Iceye. ... The terminal also can process satellite tasking ...

Nov 26,2025
An ICEYE satellite - ESA Earth Online

Title: An ICEYE satellite. Description: An image of the East China Sea, where green dots represent VesselFinder AIS points, and red boxes indicate ...

Nov 26,2025
France Says Ready to Deliver Frigate to Sweden by 2030 - The Defense Post

ICEYE satellite constellation graphic · ICEYE and Swedish Space Corporation Partner to Boost Arctic ISR for NATO. November 24, 2025. Pythom's Nacka ...

Nov 26,2025
SSA

Questions about Commercial Innovation Center (CIC)