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
China's Nuclear Acceleration Revealed in Satellite Images: Report - Newsweek

The facility has been redone in the past few years and building work is underway close by, satellite imagery indicates. At another location in the ...

Feb 15,2026
US military boards another oil tanker in Indian Ocean after tracking it from the Caribbean

Samir Madani, co-founder of TankerTrackers.com, told The Associated Press in January that his organization used satellite imagery and surface ...

Feb 15,2026
Hundreds of thousands join Iran protests around the world - BBC

Satellite image shows tunnel entrances. Iran fortifies underground complex near nuclear site, satellite images show. The activity comes at a time of ...

Feb 15,2026
At least 6,000 killed over 3 days during RSF attack on Sudan's el-Fasher, U.N. says - NBC News

... satellite imagery and video footage." In one case, RSF fighters opened fire from heavy weapons on a crowd of 1,000 people sheltering in the Rashid ...

Feb 15,2026
Chinese Satellite Imagery Exposes U.S. Patriot PAC-3 Missile Deployment with F-16 ...

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — High-resolution commercial satellite imagery released by China's MizarVision has revealed the operational deployment of MIM- ...

Feb 15,2026
Addis - #China to implement zero tariffs on imports from 53 #African countries China will ...

The report, which cited diplomatic, security, and government sources as well as satellite imagery analysis, suggested the facility could supply ...

Feb 15,2026
Wasiir Iiraani ah oo BBC-da u sheegay waxa ay diyaarka u yihiin dhankooda

... Satellite image shows tunnel entrances. Iiraan oo adkaysay agagaarka xarumaha Nukliyeerka ee dhulka hoostiisa ku yaalla. 13 Febraayo 2026. Wararka ...

Feb 15,2026
Ukraine destroys $4B of Russian air defense systems - cutting Putin's fleet in HALF

... to channel Suchomimus. Satellite Imagery Confirms Flamingo Missile Strike on GRAU Arsenal in Volgograd! Damage Caused. Suchomimus. New. 3.6K views.

Feb 15,2026
Satellite Imagery Confirms Flamingo Missile Strike on GRAU Arsenal in Volgograd! Damage Caused

Satellite imagery confirms damage to the GRAU arsenal in Kotluban, Volgograd after a Flamingo missile strike. Imagery shows the strike hit the top ...

Feb 15,2026
Imagery from Chinese satellite provider MizarVision indicates a sustained U.S. deployment at ... - X

Navroop Singh (@TheNavroopSingh). 9 likes 568 views. Imagery from Chinese satellite provider MizarVision indicates a sustained U.S. ...

Feb 15,2026
Why is an Indian satellite capturing photos of the ISS being seen as a technical milestone?

India satellite space image The Moon, as captured by the AFR satellite. (Azista Space). Advertisement. Make us preferred source on Google.

Feb 15,2026
Maria Anhalt: Auto industry timelines must get faster

She also says regulators should standardize artificial intelligence ... Ozgur Tohumcu: Satellite connectivity will enable software-defined vehicles.

Feb 15,2026
Unprecedented mobilization by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Libya, as satellite ...

EekadFacts | إيكاد (@EekadFacts). 10 likes 667 views. Unprecedented mobilization by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Libya, as satellite imagery ...

Feb 15,2026
What satellite images reveal about China's expanding nuclear programme - Moneycontrol

In the mist-covered valleys of southwest China, fresh satellite imagery shows significant expansion at several nuclear-related facilities. The ...

Feb 15,2026
New construction address rejected - satellite imagery outdated - Google Maps Community

Since the satellite imagery is outdated (only shows the road, not the house), my edits keep getting rejected. All roads have already been ...

Feb 15,2026
China upgrades nuclear sites as US-Russia arms deal expires | The Jerusalem Post

... remember our mission,” visible in satellite imagery.

Feb 15,2026
9 Most Neighborly Towns In The United States - WorldAtlas

Image credit. 9 Most Neighborly ... Charles, Illinois, I am impressed by the familial vibes that emanate from the entire Chicago satellite town.

Feb 15,2026
Satellite imagery - Google Maps Community

Satellite imagery. I am waiting a few years for a satellite update for Pokrovsk, a city in Ukraine , because this, is ugly and very outdated.

Feb 15,2026
This follows Trump moving many military assets near Iran. - Facebook

So, what does a satellite breaking up on re- entry have to do with Iran? ... "Recent satellite imagery shows major expansions at two key Iranian ...

Feb 15,2026
Strategic Autonomy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence - NatStrat

Dependence on algorithms is particularly problematic. When critical national functions, such as satellite imagery analysis, border control, ...

Feb 15,2026
Satellite Launches
$1.5-Billion NISAR Satellite Powers Near-Real-Time Soil Moisture Tracking Across India

The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission is systematically imaging the Indian landmass in S- and L-bands, delivering high-resolution ...

Feb 15,2026
Meet the American spies who helped mammograms save more lives - Fortune

... satellite images. Sharp edges and roadways helped the system locate its ... launch Apple to the government spy tech that put GPS and Google ...

Feb 15,2026
The Space Infrastructure Builder Stumbles While the Launch Provider Burns Through Cash Faster

Gross margin sits at 57%, dramatically better than either Redwire or Firefly. The satellite imagery business is more mature, and cash grew 180% year- ...

Feb 15,2026
What happens if WW3 breaks out in space from unstoppable nukes to city blackouts - The US Sun

“That's why they demonstrated a ground-launched anti-satellite capability before the invasion [of Ukraine] and have developed ground-based lasers to ...

Feb 15,2026
Iran's Asian Ally Back In Action With War Leaks? US Hides PAC-3 Arsenal With Fighters At Isa Base

Chinese satellite firm MizarVision has published high-resolution images of U.S. Patriot PAC ... U.S. Military Launches Attacks In Iranian ...

Feb 15,2026
US billionaires turn focus to new lunar space race - Business Day

... satellite-slinging launch device on the lunar surface. The lunar base ... File photo: GETTY IMAGES/MICHAEL GONZALEZ. Musk's intensified drive ...

Feb 15,2026
Why is an Indian satellite capturing photos of the ISS being seen as a technical milestone?

... Imaging (NEI) applications, like monitoring Space debris or satellites. ... It may also offer a 25% subsidy on launch costs for satellites upto Rs ...

Feb 15,2026
Astronomers detect a solar system they say should not be possible | International News - WQOW

Education Images/Universal Images Group/Getty Images via CNN Newsource ... NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, or TESS, was launched in 2018 ...

Feb 15,2026
What satellite images reveal about China's expanding nuclear programme - Moneycontrol

Satellite images show rapid expansion at China's nuclear sites. ... Many of the Sichuan facilities date back to the 1960s, when Mao Zedong launched the ...

Feb 15,2026
SUPARCO launches 'Pak-SBAS' navigation system at Cholistan Rally | The Express Tribune

Also developed by SUPARCO, the EO-2 satellite is expected to enhance Pakistan's earth observation capabilities, providing high-resolution imagery for ...

Feb 15,2026
SpaceX launches new batch of Starlink satellites with Falcon 9 | నింగిలోకి దూసుకెళ్లిన ఫాల్కన్ 9

Go to channel Fexl · Real Images Of Venus Show That Something Is Seriously Off With The Planet. Fexl•2.8M views · 51:04 · Go to channel iDream Telugu ...

Feb 15,2026
A satellite's journey from Thrace to space | eKathimerini.com

IMAGES · NEWSLETTER · LATEST NEWS · REIMAGINE TOURISM · GREEK EDITION ... On November 28, it launched the first nanosatellite designed and built ...

Feb 15,2026
SpaceX rocket launch from Florida. What time is Cape Canaveral liftoff?

SpaceX plans to send a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 29 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit on Monday, Feb. 16. Rockets here launch from NASA's ...

Feb 15,2026
GalaxEye to partner with ISRO's NewSpace India to sell its satellite imagery solutions

GalaxEye partners with ISRO's NSIL to offer satellite imagery solutions, marking a milestone in India's private space sector ... launches massive AI ...

Feb 15,2026
UPDATE: SpaceX conducts Starlink launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base - YouTube

UPDATE: SpaceX conducts Starlink launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base. ... Real Images Of Venus Show That Something Is Seriously Off With The Planet.

Feb 15,2026
NearSpace Education Awarded Statewide NASA Grant to Send Student-Programmed ...

... launch their boards in a NearSpace Launch satellite to Low Earth Orbit. ... images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of ...

Feb 15,2026
UPDATE: SpaceX conducts Starlink launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base - KSBY

SpaceX successfully launched 24 Starlink satellites into low-earth orbit at around 5:59 p.m. on Saturday.

Feb 15,2026
Southern California sky is lit up by Valentine's Day SpaceX launch - Hanford Sentinel

... Images/TNS). Mario Tama/Getty Images North America/TNS. Facebook · Twitter ... Starlink, SpaceX's satellite internet provider, has launched about ...

Feb 15,2026
Deep in China's Mountains, a Nuclear Revival Takes Shape - The New York Times

Satellite imagery of secretive nuclear facilities reveals Beijing's efforts to expand its arsenal, just as the last global guardrails on nuclear ...

Feb 15,2026
Southern California sky is lit up by Valentine's Day SpaceX launch - Los Angeles Times

SpaceX launches a Falcon 9 rocket on Valentine's Day to add 24 satellites to its Starlink satellite network.

Feb 15,2026
EO-MSI
Satellite internet provider Starlink officially licenced to operate in Viet Nam

Viet Nam has authorised satellite internet provider Starlink to operate after regulators granted licences for low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite ...

Feb 15,2026
Three Key Stocks in Buffett's Portfolio | Intellectia.AI

Constellation Brands Challenges: Constellation Brands, a smaller ... Evercore ISI analyst John Pancari lowered the firm's price target on ...

Feb 15,2026
Grandfather - StarDate Online

In the western world, they are part of the constellation Columba, the dove. But in ancient China the due was known as the Grandfather. ← Previous ...

Feb 15,2026
Shivering Americans Snap Up Firewood as Winter Grinds On - The New York Times

Satellite Images of Winter Freeze · Cold Deaths in New York ... Travis Dove for The New York Times. Mr. Hite, 32, the owner of Nashville ...

Feb 15,2026
Umurongo ngenderwaho ku isi ushingiye ku mategeko 'ntukibaho' – umutegetsi w'Ubudage

... isi ko "ubwisanzure bwacu ntibwizewe" muri iki gihe cya politike ... Satellite yerekana inzira yinjira munsi y'ubutaka. Iran yarushijeho ...

Feb 15,2026
Trump avuga ko ihinduka ry'ubutegetsi muri Irani ari cyo 'kintu cyiza cyane gishobora kuba'

... Satellite yerekana inzira yinjira munsi y'ubutaka. Iran yarushijeho ... isi ushingiye ku mategeko 'ntukibaho' – umutegetsi w'Ubudage. Haciye ...

Feb 15,2026
Copper price: Strains deepen as global smelting activity hits decade low

Uncertainty on copper markets was heightened after satellite data ... Earth-i's latest SAVANT Global Copper Smelting Index shows that 14.3 ...

Feb 15,2026
SSA

Questions about Commercial Innovation Center (CIC)