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
Israeli Forces Kill Two in Gaza as Satellite Images Reveal New Military Bases

In northern Gaza, satellite imagery also detected logistical movements and armored transport activity in areas that previously had no military ...

Feb 7,2026
Satellite-based SMS opens to mobile users - Chinadaily.com.cn

The company is involved in satellite navigation and communications, big data services, artificial intelligence development, and geospatial remote ...

Feb 7,2026
The Blake Brief: AI and Earth Observation: A New Lens on Our Planet | Wilson Sonsini

the use of AI for object detection in satellite imagery; · the development of foundation models permitting researchers to build custom applications ...

Feb 7,2026
Is this an iceberg flipping over caught on satellite imagery? 54°24'13.5"S 36°51'13.1"W

Is this an iceberg flipping over caught on satellite imagery? 54°24'13.5"S 36°51'13.1"W. Coordinates ✓ · maps.app.goo.gl. Open. Upvote

Feb 7,2026
Iran says talks with U.S. to continue, but adds mistrust to be addressed as Trump's threats linger

Tehran has maintained that these talks will only be on its nuclear program. However, the Al Jazeera satellite news network reported that diplomats ...

Feb 7,2026
Mamba–LSTM for Long-Horizon Shoreline Prediction using Satellite Imagery

... Satellite Imagery. In: 2026 11th International Conference on Machine Learning Technologies (ICMLT 2026), Berlin, Germany, 20-22 May 2026 ...

Feb 7,2026
The scent of barren ground grizzly - Geophysical Institute

Biologist Jordan Pruszenski measures an anesthetized bear during May 2025. Biologists take measurements and samples before attaching a satellite/ ...

Feb 7,2026
U.S. accuses China of secretive nuclear test as arms-control agreements lapse

Analysis of government documents and satellite imagery indicates ... Recent satellite imagery analysis by Barbiarz's team shows the Lop Nur ...

Feb 7,2026
Friday's Mini-Report, 2.6.26 - MS NOW

... satellite imagery suggests.” Recommended. A coast guard ship sails through a body of water surrounded by a city. Maddowblog · Tuesday's Mini-Report ...

Feb 7,2026
Biospheric Science Branch Page - NASA

Global Phytoplankton Distribution shown form a satellite image. a part of are microscopic organisms that. Biospheric Science Branch. The Biospheric ...

Feb 7,2026
Iran's mysterious Pickaxe Mountain a 'candidate' for new nuclear activities - ABC News

And satellite imagery revealed Pickaxe Mountain could be a "potential candidate" for new uranium enrichment activities. Iran's nuclear ambitions. Soon ...

Feb 7,2026
Satellite Imagery Shows Deadly Storm Crossing Philippines - Yahoo

Timelapse satellite imagery captured between February 5 and 7 shows Tropical Storm Penha, named locally as Basyang, crossing the Philippines, ...

Feb 7,2026
Satellite imagery analyzed by the New York Times shows Iran quickly repaired ballistic ...

Satellite imagery analyzed by the New York Times shows Iran quickly repaired ballistic missile sites hit last year, while making only limited ...

Feb 7,2026
Water vapor satellite imagery shows a frontal pacific system directing a atmospheric river at ...

Josh (@severeweatherus). 3 Replies. 1.6K Views. Water vapor satellite imagery shows a frontal pacific system directing a atmospheric river at the ...

Feb 7,2026
Ice on the Hudson River visible from NASA satellites - AccuWeather

In the image, ice is also visible in the East River and in the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir in Central Park. A satellite image of the New York ...

Feb 7,2026
Widening beaches make California 500 acres bigger than it was 40 years ago - Phys.org

Satellite imagery now allows us to measure beach width everywhere, several times per month." Rethinking sediment management opportunities. The ...

Feb 7,2026
Using Satellite Imagery to Investigate War Crimes

The rise of commercial satellite imagery has changed the reporting landscape, giving journalists an aerial view of conflicts that were previously ...

Feb 7,2026
Russian satellite manoeuvring towards EU spying-risk zone - EUobserver

Russia's 'Cosmos-2589' satellite is one to watch for future spying on EU signals, after Moscow's older model joined a "graveyard".

Feb 7,2026
Iran repairing missile sites damaged in last year's strikes⁠ ⁠ - Satellite images show ... - Instagram

US could target Iran's hidden military sites and bunkers if conflict escalates, analysts say — Satellite imagery and defense assessments indicate ...

Feb 7,2026
How Geospatial Fusion is Redefining Underwriting Certainty - Carrier Management

High-fidelity risk assessment required manual intervention—underwriters scouring satellite imagery, cross-referencing flood maps, and digging through ...

Feb 7,2026
Satellite Launches
Starlink Launches Satellite Internet Service in Tajikistan - The Astana Times

ALMATY – Satellite internet provider Starlink, operated by SpaceX, has officially launched operations in Tajikistan, as it was announced on Feb.

Feb 7,2026
“The truth comes from space” - Deutsche Bank

The company uses thermal imaging sensors and AI-powered analysis for this purpose. Since 2022, OroraTech has launched its own satellites. By early ...

Feb 7,2026
Orbit of opportunities - Space economy - Deutsche Bank

Launch of Kepler satellite © Ororatech. Preparing the launch of the Kepler satellite © OroraTech ... images of the Earth: Thomas Grübler from ...

Feb 7,2026
Why Jerusalem is last in Israel's quality of life ranking

A satellite imagery taken on February 1, 2026, shows a new roof over a ... The new Gav-Yam hi-tech campus in Givat Ram, recently launched, and ...

Feb 7,2026
When will SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket return to flight after 4 upper-stage issues in 19 months?

On Monday (Feb. 2), a Falcon 9 successfully launched 25 of SpaceX's Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit (LEO) from California. But the upper stage ...

Feb 7,2026
Russia launches Friday morning rush hour missile, drone attack on Ukraine

(Yan Dobronosov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images). Editor's note ... satellite internet. Starlink 'catastrophe' for Russia as Musk shuts ...

Feb 7,2026
Satellite images show Iran is rebuilding missile arsenal, nuclear sites - New York Times

Top Stories: TrumpRx launches · Winter Olympics opening ceremony · Nancy Guthrie latest · DHS shutdown looms · Trump admin firing rule · Trump's push ...

Feb 7,2026
SpaceX's next astronaut launch for NASA is officially on for Feb. 11 as FAA clears Falcon 9 ...

A used SpaceX rocket on a seaside launch pad in California ahead of the Transporter-. SpaceX scrubs launch of 140 satellites atop used Falcon 9 rocket ...

Feb 7,2026
Musk: SpaceX Move to Texas Led to Hiring Challenge - Business Insider

The problem is most acute at SpaceX's south Texas launch site and headquarters, known as Starbase. ... Satellite images reveal scale of Elon's empire.

Feb 7,2026
Musk says more AI will be in orbit than on earth in 5 years and SpaceX will be 'hyper-hyper' scaler

CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images ... And last month, SpaceX asked the FCC for permission to launch up to 1 million solar‑powered satellites designed ...

Feb 7,2026
NASA Sets Coverage for Agency's SpaceX Crew-12 Launch, Docking

U.S.-India NISAR Satellite Images Mississippi River Delta Region. 3 min ... Launch audio also will be available on Launch Information Service ...

Feb 7,2026
Ukraine Tried To Take Out Russia's Oreshnik Missile Base. But The Flamingo Cruise ...

... launched FP-5s blasting off overnight sometime last month. Analysis group CyberBoroshno bought commercial satellite imagery of Kapustin Yar and ...

Feb 7,2026
Iran Bets On POWER As US War Looms; Rapidly Rebuilds Missiles As Nuke Sites Remain Quiet

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is doubling down on ballistic missile power as new satellite images ... Launch From USS Lincoln As US-Iran ...

Feb 7,2026
NASA will now allow astronauts to take their smartphones to space - Engadget

But thanks to the upcoming Artemis II mission , we can look forward to the first smartphone images from the moon's orbit. The March (for now) launch ...

Feb 7,2026
Mines researcher part of NASA-selected satellite mission | Colorado School of Mines

... launch. EDGE, the first global satellite imaging laser altimeter system, will provide a transformational advancement of observations of land ...

Feb 7,2026
Elon Musk vows to launch solar-powered data centers in space - InnovationMap

Photo via Getty Images. Elon Musk vowed this week to upend another ... A company in Redmond, Washington, called Starcloud, launched a satellite ...

Feb 7,2026
Iran Advanced Missile Site Repairs Faster Than Nuclear Facilities - NYT - Caspianpost.com

... nuclear sites has progressed more slowly and on a more limited scale, The New York Times reported on Friday, citing an analysis of satellite imagery.

Feb 7,2026
U.S. analyst denies missile damage at Russia's Oreshnik site - Defence Blog

... satellite imagery cited as evidence shows no damage to the facility. ... launch activities of Russia's Oreshnik missile system. Decker Eveleth, a ...

Feb 7,2026
Dynamic Space Operations | Air & Space Forces Magazine

Even today, satellites are launched into a specific orbit for the duration of their mission life. ... satellite imaging technology and how it has ...

Feb 7,2026
U.S. and Iran hold nuclear talks amid threats of regional war - The Washington Post

The Trump administration first launched talks aimed at securing a nuclear deal with Iran last year. ... satellite imagery. “While these negotiations are ...

Feb 7,2026
EO-MSI
Space Cybersecurity Leaders Convene in Singapore to Address Escalating Threats in ...

At CYSAT Asia, the Academy ran two workshops: “Cyber Threats Along the Lifecycle of a Satellite” by HelvetiSpace, which dove into the threats faced by ...

Feb 7,2026
Space Brief 6 Feb 2026 - KeepTrack

BlackSky Expands Its Global Footprint with New Defense Contracts ... Fun Fact: This satellite is part of the 'Dove' series, which is known ...

Feb 7,2026
Exolaunch to Deploy 57 Satellites on Transporter-16 Mission - ASDNews

... Satellite Imagery. Jan 29, 2026 · The 1st Airbus Pleiades Neo Next Satellite Will Be Launched Early 2028. Jan 27, 2026 ...

Feb 7,2026
Space Cybersecurity Leaders Convene in Singapore to Address Escalating Threats ... - Taiwan News

At CYSAT Asia, the Academy ran two workshops: "Cyber Threats Along the Lifecycle of a Satellite" by HelvetiSpace, which dove into the threats faced by ...

Feb 7,2026
Elbit Systems to Upgrade Israel's Future CH-53K Helicopters With Local Systems

BlackSky Secures New International Defense Contracts for ISR Satellite Subscription. BlackSky Technology has received multiple contracts to provide ...

Feb 7,2026
Elbit Systems to Upgrade Israel's Future CH-53K Helicopters With Local Systems

The CH-53K System · Subscribe to our mailing list · Related Articles · BlackSky Secures New International Defense Contracts for ISR Satellite ...

Feb 7,2026
Newly discovered comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS) raises the question: Could it be visible in daylight?

The new comet was first spotted when it was around 191 million miles from the Sun, shining in the constellation of Columba the Dove at a magnitude ...

Feb 7,2026
BlackSky Secures New International Defense Contracts for ISR Satellite Subscription

BlackSky Technology has received multiple contracts to provide Gen-3 Assured satellite services to a new international defense user, expanding the ...

Feb 7,2026
France charges four for targeting Musk's Starlink, X, and Grok in China espionage

... satellite signal display device capable of intercepting satellite ... See also Lenovo Legion Go: A New Addition to the Handheld Gaming Industry.

Feb 7,2026
Amazon stock price target lowered to $285 by Evercore ISI on capex concerns

... ISI. North America and International Operating Margins reached record ... Constellation Software. 2,477.22, -0.23%, 184.36K. Name, Last, Chg. %, Vol ...

Feb 7,2026
Lockheed Martin Awarded $328.5 Million Contract to Deliver Legion-ES Systems

Thank you all! " Sweeney Ng - CEE PCB. Suggested Items. Maxar's Third and Fourth WorldView Legion ... as the next-generation WorldView Legion satellite ...

Feb 7,2026
Craft communities and the challenges of climate change - DW.com

This handout satellite picture provided by Maxar Technologies and taken on June 24, 2025, · US and Iran set to hold nuclear talks in Oman.

Feb 7,2026
Leading Coverage in Satellite & Space - SatNews

Maxar Technologies (NYSE:MAXR) (TSX:MAXR) built the BSAT-4b satellite, manufactured for Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT), and, post- ...

Feb 7,2026
BlackSky stock gets Buy rating reiteration from Canaccord on Gen-3 contract win

Jefferies also set a price target of $23.00, noting the expected benefits from a refreshed satellite constellation by the end of 2026. Get The App.

Feb 7,2026
SAR
U.S. analyst denies missile damage at Russia's Oreshnik site - Defence Blog

Australia's EOS opens Singapore hub to produce laser weapons · Egypt buys ... satellite imagery cited as evidence shows no damage to the facility.

Feb 7,2026
Finland, Helsinki R&D Satellite Build & Lab Maintenance Team Lead @ ICEYE

Finland, Helsinki R&D Satellite Build & Lab Maintenance Team Lead. ICEYE. Posted on Feb 6, 2026. Apply now. This website uses cookies to improve ...

Feb 7,2026
Scaling Seaweed Production across India through Combining Satellite and Oceonographic Data

EOS · LiDAR · Location & BI · AEC · Autonomous · Sustainable Development; More. News · Articles · Blogs · Hall of Fame · Videos · Events · Newsletter.

Feb 7,2026
JAXA admits that the H3 failed due to damage to the satellite section and fuel tube ... - ECOticias.com

India's failed PSLV C62 flight carried EOS N1, also known as Anvesha, a hyperspectral Earth observation mission designed to monitor crops, water ...

Feb 7,2026
More than a satellite: Why GISAT-1A matters - News24

The new satellite, GISAT-1A or EOS-05, launching in February 2026, is not just another piece of technology floating in space. It is India's answer ...

Feb 7,2026
ISRO gears up for GISAT-1A Launch; why is it significant? - The Week

That is exactly what India's new satellite, GISAT-1A (also called EOS-05), will do. The launch, which is expected to take place in the next one or two ...

Feb 7,2026
Satellite imagery of the 24 January 2026 Burangrang landslide. - Eos.org

Satellite image of the 24 January 2026 landslide on Gunung Burangrang in Indonesia. Image copyright Planet Labs ...

Feb 7,2026
Exolaunch to Deploy 57 Satellites on Transporter-16 Mission - ASDNews

... satellite integration, global shipping and customs clearance, and ... Capella Space, Pixxel and US Commercial Customer on SpaceX's NAOS ...

Feb 7,2026
R&D Satellite Build & Lab Maintenance Team Lead - ICEYE - Space Crew

ICEYE is hiring a R&D Satellite Build & Lab Maintenance Team Lead in Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland. Apply now and find thousands of space jobs on the ...

Feb 7,2026
Kymeta-JDI meta-surface to enable multi-band, multi-orbit satcomns | Electronics Weekly

... satellite frequencies. This collaboration aims to deliver the industry's first ... Ukraine, Sweden expand access to ICEYE's satellite SAR imagery.

Feb 7,2026
SSA

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