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
America's Slide Toward Simulated Democracy - The Atlantic

That's when I figured out you could use satellite imagery to figure out where these videos were filmed, stumbling into geolocation.” I want to ...

Nov 28,2025
Africa's forests flip from carbon sink to source as moist tropics suffer accelerating losses ...

Africa's forests flip from carbon sink to source as moist tropics suffer accelerating losses, satellite data shows ... intelligence, as well as other ...

Nov 28,2025
Senator Ndume's Admission on Satellite Failure Is a National Disgrace. By Chief ... - Facebook

If after 20+ years in the Senate , most of it spent on Defence Committees , Nigeria still lacks basic satellite intelligence, then Senator Ndume ...

Nov 28,2025
California Heals: Satellite Imagery Reveals Soothing Greenery - Instagram

Galaxies @galaxies Spectacular satellite imagery showing the greening up of Southern California after this fall's massive round of storms.

Nov 28,2025
One small Indigenous territory emerges as illegal mining hotspot in Brazil's Amazon

Banner image: Satellite image showing the destruction of the Sararé Indigenous Territory in Mato Grosso state, Brazil, left behind by illegal gold ...

Nov 28,2025
Planet Select - SkyFi

Experience rapid access to the Planet SkySat® constellation for both tasking and archive satellite imagery, powered by SkyFi's infrastructure.

Nov 28,2025
Vantor (Maxar) Satellite & Geospatial Data on SkyFi

Premium satellite tasking, archival imagery & on‑demand 3D models through Maxar's secure interface, powered by SkyFi. Get started. PAY AS YOU GO.

Nov 28,2025
Colombia spy chief says working 'hand in hand' with CIA despite row - France 24

... satellite intelligence. Lemus insisted that cooperation continues "not only with the CIA, but with all agencies, they have various. With all of ...

Nov 28,2025
NISAR earth observation satellite enters final science operations phase - The Hindu

The NASA ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite, launched in July, has entered the science phase, the ISRO announced on Friday (November ...

Nov 28,2025
FlameGuard: an AI-driven smart map for early detection and management of agricultural ... - Nature

This study presents FlameGuard, a geospatial AI framework developed to classify fire confidence levels using thermal satellite imagery-based data from ...

Nov 28,2025
RSF kills state news agency's director in El-Fasher, detains several journalists

Vantor close-up satellite imagery reveals active smoke plumes rising near the perimeter of El Fasher airport. ... Please use: Satellite image (c) 2025 ...

Nov 28,2025
NISAR satellite deploys 12-metre diameter antenna, enters science phase | India News

NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite launched onboard GSLV-F16 on July 30 this year successfully deployed 12-metre diameter ...

Nov 28,2025
Intelligent photodetectors 'sniff and seek' like retriever dogs to recognize materials directly ...

... image sensor that can perform machine-learning inference during the act ... satellite imaging, among other applications. "This work redefines ...

Nov 28,2025
Abu Dhabi's TII and Honeywell Team to Advance Quantum-Secure Satellite Technology

Abu Dhabi's TII and Honeywell have partnered to test quantum-secure satellite communication using QKD, integrating QKDSat with the ADQOGS ground ...

Nov 28,2025
Pakistan's Hyperspectral Satellite: A Step Toward Digital Sovereignty – OpEd

Before the recent launch of HS-1, Pakistan relied on foreign satellite services for 79% of its satellite usage capacity. ... geospatial imagery.

Nov 28,2025
R&S Acquires Stake in Orbint for Space-Based Signal Intelligence Reconnaissance

Also Read: R&S to Showcase Satellite Payload Testing Solution at Space Tech Expo Europe 2025. Orbint's founders selected Rohde & Schwarz as their ...

Nov 28,2025
From countering satellite jamming to the threat in Space: Astrolight and Europe's challenge ...

... intelligence… it's obvious that all ... Traditional radio-frequency (RF) satellite links have become an easy target in contested environments.

Nov 28,2025
Hospital massacre caps a long series of attacks on healthcare in war-torn Sudan | Reuters

Satellite imagery from October 28 reveals signs of mass killings at Saudi Hospital. The images show clusters of human-sized objects, according to ...

Nov 28,2025
SatQuant: Fix YOLOv8 quantization accuracy on satellite imagery (Edge TPU) | Hacker News

SatQuant: Fix YOLOv8 quantization accuracy on satellite imagery (Edge TPU) (github.com/gulis-dev). 1 point by gulis-dev 2 hours ago | hide | past ...

Nov 28,2025
The end of the Amazon soy moratorium will accelerate deforestation - LSE Business Review

A careful monitoring process using remote-sensing satellite imagery identifies soy crops in areas cleared after 2008. A team examines these images ...

Nov 28,2025
Satellite Launches
Satellite built by SSU students with partners at two universities successfully launched into orbit

The CubeSat satellite – about the size of a loaf of bread – deployed approximately an hour and three minutes (T-plus 1:03) after launch, and will ...

Nov 28,2025
Planet Labs (PL) Launches New Satellites with SpaceX - GuruFocus

Key Takeaways: Planet Labs (PL) has successfully launched new satellites, enhancing its Earth-imaging capabilities. The company operates in the ...

Nov 28,2025
Soyuz launch damages only Russian platform used for ISS flights - NewsNation

... satellite along with Russian satellites into orbit. (Roscosmos State Space Corporate via AP). Want to see more of NewsNation? Get 24/7 fact-based ...

Nov 28,2025
ESA's HydroGNSS mission launched to 'scout' for water - European Space Agency

... Images. About ... The two new high-resolution ICEYE radar satellites are the first to launch under the Greek National Small Satellite Programme.

Nov 28,2025
Spire Global Successfully Launches 11 Satellites on SpaceX's Transporter-15 Mission

On this launch, Spire Space Services deployed satellites for GHGSat and Lacuna Space: GHGSat: Spire launched two satellites for GHGSat carrying ...

Nov 28,2025
Planet Launches High-Resolution Pelican-5, Pelican-6 Satellites and 36 SuperDoves

Learn more about Pelican's capabilities here. About Planet Labs PBC. Planet is a leading provider of global, daily satellite imagery and geospatial ...

Nov 28,2025
Planet Launches High-Resolution Pelican-5, Pelican-6 Satellites and 36 SuperDoves

Planet's satellites were launched to orbit on the Transporter-15 ... Images; Videos; Collections. Articles. Funeral services for Nov. 25, 2025 ...

Nov 28,2025
ESA's HydroGNSS mission launched to 'scout' for water - European Space Agency

The two twin HydroGNSS satellites were carried into orbit at 19:44 CET aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, as part of the Transporter-15 rideshare flight ...

Nov 28,2025
Planet Launches High-Resolution Pelican-5, Pelican-6 Satellites and 36 SuperDoves

Planet is a leading provider of global, daily satellite imagery and geospatial solutions. Planet is driven by a mission to image the world every day, ...

Nov 28,2025
Rocket with first Polish military satellites blasts off into orbit - TVP World

Launch of Poland's first military satellites ... imaging satellite built by the ICEYE company and a constellation of three PIAST satellites.

Nov 28,2025
HydroGNSS launch highlights - ESA

... Images. About ESA. The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe's ... HydroGNSS satellites being prepared for launch Applications. HydroGNSS ...

Nov 28,2025
NISAR earth observation satellite enters final science operations phase - The Hindu

Images from the satellite can be used in various targeted science ... The NASA ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite, launched in ...

Nov 28,2025
Satellites Capture Massive Gathering of Gigantic Arctic Creatures on Remote Island

Its existence was revealed through satellite imagery, part of the Walrus from Space initiative launched by WWF and BAS. This project, which has ...

Nov 28,2025
Satellite Images Reveal Suspicious Activity at Iranian Facility | The West Asia Post | WION

Satellite Images Reveal Suspicious Activity at Iranian ... Investigation launched after Israeli forces were filmed killing two Palestinian men.

Nov 28,2025
Did You Hear A Sonic Boom? SpaceX Warns That Launch May Cause Multiple Booms Over SoCal

... imaging systems and operates a constellation of high ... launch everything from Starlink internet satellites to national security satellites.

Nov 28,2025
Possible sonic boom as SpaceX launches rocket from Vandenberg - KTLA

... Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg for ... imaging systems and operates a constellation of high-resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites.

Nov 28,2025
NISAR satellite deploys 12-metre diameter antenna, enters science phase | India News

NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite launched onboard ... On the 100th day of NISAR in orbit, the S-SAR images were released to the ...

Nov 28,2025
SpaceX to re-attempt spacecraft launch from Vandenberg - NBC Los Angeles

SpaceX was expected to try again Friday to send 140 satellites aboard Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Nov 28,2025
Poland's first military satellites set for launch from US - English Section - Polskie Radio

The Iceye satellite, the largest of the constellation, is equipped with a radar sensor capable of imaging the Earth regardless of weather conditions.

Nov 28,2025
Abu Dhabi's TII and Honeywell Team to Advance Quantum-Secure Satellite Technology

... launched a joint initiative to develop quantum-secure satellite ... Satellite Imagery. May 24, 2021. Keep track of everything going on in the ...

Nov 28,2025
EO-MSI
This flagship Garmin smartwatch has a satellite feature I wish I found sooner (plus it's on sale)

Neo QLED vs OLED · ZDNET Recommends. Tech. Gaming · Headphones · Laptops · Mobile ... This flagship Garmin smartwatch has a satellite feature I wish I ...

Nov 28,2025
World's first commercial space science satellite launched successfully | St Albans ...

Award-winning Markyate prep school celebrates outstanding ISI inspection · Fourth person charged under Terrorism Act over Palestine Action ban ...

Nov 28,2025
World's first commercial space science satellite launched successfully - Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald

Blue Skies Space, a space science data company headquartered in London, said its satellite was launched from a rocket in California.

Nov 28,2025
BlackSky Beams Gen-3 Images Home at Record Speed | MarketScreener

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 28,2025
No Signal Lost: Hydra MAX Confirms Multi-Orbit Reliability in Harsh Test - NextGen Defense

BlackSky Unveils AI-Driven Precision With Gen-3 Satellite Imaging. BlackSky has unveiled its first AI-driven analytics from high-resolution imagery ...

Nov 28,2025
Ukraine Strikes Russia's Engels Strategic Bomber Base as Fires Break Out in Saratov

Earlier, a satellite review of Russia's ... Illustrative image. Maxar satellite imagery shows Tu-95 bombers intact at Belaya Airbase before.

Nov 28,2025
BlackSky Gen-3 Satellite Snaps Shockingly Clear Images Just 1 Day After Launch

GerardT (@gerardnl9711). 13 views. BlackSky Gen-3 Satellite Snaps Shockingly Clear Images Just 1 Day After Launch.

Nov 28,2025
Which Are the Top 22 Small Satellite Companies Shaping the Global Space Industry in 2025?

Planet Labs Inc. A global leader in commercial Earth observation, operating over 200+ Dove and SuperDove small satellites, the world's largest imaging ...

Nov 28,2025
Exciting Charity Golf Day at Yarra Yarra Golf Club - Golf Post

Men PGA Tour European Tour LIV Tour Satellite Tours Korn Ferry Tour Challenge Tour Senior Tours ... Legion XIII celebrates their 2025 LIV Golf League ...

Nov 28,2025
BRIN Plans National Space Airport Construction - VOI

"BRIN has been able to produce good satellites, including the preparation of the NEO-1 Satellite which is currently being prepared for launch next ...

Nov 28,2025
ImageSat International (TASE:ISI) Delivers Q3 Profit, Challenging Persistent Loss Narrative

Imagesat International (I.S.I). Provides space-based intelligence, satellite imagery, and data analytics solutions for homeland defense markets and ...

Nov 28,2025
BlackSky says its new Gen-3 satellite can spot cars, ships – even people and their shadows

TECHSPOT.COM · BlackSky captures high-quality photos of Earth less than a day after launching its new satellite · BlackSky is a space company focused on ...

Nov 28,2025
Ethiopia's Long-Dormant Hayli Gubbi Volcano Erupts After 10,000 Years, Causing ... - Gabon Review

The eruption's unprecedented nature prompted intensive satellite monitoring using systems such as NASA's Worldview and the European Space Agency's ...

Nov 28,2025
SAR
Greece Launches Five Satellites Into Space - Greek City Times

... satellite networks operated by ICEYE, OroraTech, and Open Cosmos. The constellation will supply vital data for mapping, navigation, precision ...

Nov 28,2025
PM hails 'giant leap' as Poland launches its first military satellite - Polskie Radio

The payload included a radar-imaging satellite built by the Polish-Finnish company Iceye ... The Iceye satellite uses radar technology that allows for ...

Nov 28,2025
After Delays, SpaceX Rocket Lifts Off for Transporter-15 Mission from Vandenberg

Employees of a Santa Barbara-based Umbra had one satellite aboard Transporter-15 mission. ... satellite constellation. The Earth-observation ...

Nov 28,2025
HydroGNSS: new European satellites for Earth's water and climate - Karlobag.eu

... ICEYE for the Greek National Small Satellite Program. Thereby, one ... ICEYE constellation. The program is financed through the national ...

Nov 28,2025
Rocket with first Polish military satellites blasts off into orbit - TVP World

... satellite built by the ICEYE company and a constellation of three PIAST satellites. ... ICEYE's synthetic-aperture radar technology enables ...

Nov 28,2025
Every 90 minutes or so, an Acadia satellite designed by Capella Space completes another ...

UCF (@UCF). 322 views. Every 90 minutes or so, an Acadia satellite designed by Capella Space completes another orbit of our planet and Cassie Todd ...

Nov 28,2025
Privately built PSLV gears up for launch - INDIA - GENERAL | Kerala Kaumudi Online

It will deploy ISRO's EOS-10 earth observation satellite within the next two months. A consortium of L&T and HAL is manufacturing the rocket ...

Nov 28,2025
Poland's first military satellites set for launch from US - English Section - Polskie Radio

The Iceye satellite, the largest of the constellation, is equipped with a radar sensor capable of imaging the Earth regardless of weather conditions.

Nov 28,2025
Pakistan's Hyperspectral Satellite: A Step Toward Digital Sovereignty – OpEd

... EOS. Recently, Pakistan expanded its presence in the cosmos with the ... Before the recent launch of HS-1, Pakistan relied on foreign satellite services ...

Nov 28,2025
$IonQ Every 90 minutes, a Capella Space satellite now part of IonQ growing space ...

Cassie Todd, UCF alumna and electrical design engineer, contributed to the hardware behind Capella's Acadia, Denali, Sequoia, and Whitney satellites.

Nov 28,2025
Wyoming Skies: December skies may be dark, but two planets shine bright | Outdoors

And the flashy golden star to its left is Capella in the constellation of Auriga. Later in the evening, you'll see the constellations of Gemini ...

Nov 28,2025
ICEYE and Esri Australia Partner for Hazard Intelligence Across Australia and Southeast Asia

ICEYE Showcases Operational ISR Cell at NATO Tiger Meet 2025. by Joshua Faleti. September 29, 2025. ICEYE Signs Satellite Acquisition Agreement with ...

Nov 28,2025
Which Are the Top 22 Small Satellite Companies Shaping the Global Space Industry in 2025?

... Capella Space, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Blue Canyon Technologies, Terran Orbital, OHB Systems, Thales Alenia Space, Mitsubishi Electric, Boeing ...

Nov 28,2025
SSA

Questions about Commercial Innovation Center (CIC)