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
Meteorologist - Hi-Res Satellite imagery from Tuesday afternoon shows the Illinois and Rock ...

May be an image of map, arctic and text that says 'Waterioo Dubyque Duby. Meteorologist Chris Yates. 󱙄. 5 hours ago · 󰟠. Photos. Hi-Res Satellite ...

Feb 4,2026
Chilled New York City - NASA Science

Chilled New York City ... Ice in the Hudson River hugged the shore of Manhattan amid a deep freeze. ... View more Images of the Day: A satellite image of ...

Feb 4,2026
Half of the Great Lakes are covered in ice. Here's what to know. - Michigan Public

A satellite image of the Great Lakes taken January 31, 2026. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. With one Arctic front behind us, and ...

Feb 4,2026
Amazing NOAA GOES-19 Satellite Imagery of the Arctic Air this week coming off the ... - Reddit

Amazing NOAA GOES-19 Satellite Imagery of the Arctic Air this week coming off the southeast coast. Cold dry air meets relatively warm air to form ...

Feb 4,2026
WeatherNation | Check out these cloud streets captured by the GOES-East satellite ... - Instagram

Nothing beats a perfectly timed view at our satellite imagery, and what better than when a strong cold front is passing right over our region?! Our ...

Feb 4,2026
The Numbers, and Questions, Behind Musk's Mega-Merger - The New York Times

Image. Image A SpaceX Startship rocket on the launchpad, attached to a crane. SpaceX is now a rocket-launching giant, a dominant force in satellite ...

Feb 4,2026
This is one if the 'DUMBEST GEOSTRATEGIC MISTAKES' that the UK could possibly make: Pompeo

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discusses talks between the U.S. and Iran, the Chagos Islands deal and risks of having trade relationships ...

Feb 4,2026
Next Up in Pentagon's Push for Defense Industry Reforms: Space

... satellite imaging technology and how it has advanced in the decades since. Space Force Activates NORTHCOM Component Amid Homeland Defense Shift.

Feb 4,2026
38 North: Signs of N. Korean Military Parade Preparations Detected ahead of Party Congress

38 North, a U.S.-based outlet specializing in North Korea, reported on Monday that commercial satellite imagery taken the same day of the Mirim ...

Feb 4,2026
Are Countries Digitally Ready for Biodiversity Action? | United Nations Development Programme

... satellite imagery to map ecosystems and animal's movement; ranger teams use smartphones, GPS units, and applications such as Spatial Monitoring ...

Feb 4,2026
As satellites become critical infrastructure, here's what governments should note - GovInsider

One of NSAS tasks is to support other agencies in tapping into satellite imagery and geospatial data analytics for their specific needs. Finally ...

Feb 4,2026
Spotting invasive weeds using satellites, AI - Spatial Source

Satellite imagery and AI algorithms have proven highly successful at spotting two highly invasive weeds species in the Australian landscape.

Feb 4,2026
Russian Forces Deployed Near Finland, 15000 Soldiers Ready For Battle - YouTube

Satellite imagery reported by Yle shows site clearance, equipment arrivals, and technical infrastructure upgrades. The garrison will host the ...

Feb 4,2026
NOAA GOES-19 Satellite Imagery of the Arctic Air this week coming off the southeast coast ... - Reddit

NOAA GOES-19 Satellite Imagery of the Arctic Air this week coming off the southeast coast of the United States. Cold dry air meets relatively warm air ...

Feb 4,2026
Lake Champlain Nearing Ice Closure as of February 3, 2026 - WPTZ

Satellite imagery shows a couple square miles of open water remain near Juniper Island.

Feb 4,2026
'The Day the Music Died': Wisconsin's role in the infamous plane crash | FOX6 Milwaukee

Unfortunately, they did not have access to things like radar or satellite imagery and the young pilot took off into the storm unaware of how bad it ...

Feb 4,2026
Is NZ defence and intelligence policy aligning with AUKUS in all but name?

The long-range drones, satellite surveillance, data integration and counter-drone technologies outlined in the Defence Capability Plan closely mirror ...

Feb 4,2026
Egypt deploys Turkish drones amid Sudan war escalation | The Jerusalem Post

Drone deployment at the base. While only one Akinci is clearly visible on any given day in the Vantor imagery, an image captured by U.S. satellite ...

Feb 4,2026
US Navy wants commercial satellites for nighttime Earth observation - Defense News

... commercial satellite can perform onboard processing of sensor data. ... However, nighttime satellite imagery can also be useful to the military and ...

Feb 4,2026
@DUBaviator Maps and satellite imagery is provided by the map provider - Apple or Google

Flightradar24 (@flightradar24). 72 views. @DUBaviator Maps and satellite imagery is provided by the map provider - Apple or Google - depening on ...

Feb 4,2026
Satellite Launches
Spacety Launches A-Share IPO Process, Filling China's Commercial SAR Satellite Gap

To date, Spacety's in-orbit SAR satellites have captured tens of thousands of imaging scenes, which have been widely applied in areas such as ...

Feb 4,2026
Next Up in Pentagon's Push for Defense Industry Reforms: Space

“Folks across government are getting more and more concerned about the level of dominance of SpaceX, both in launch and in satellite production.

Feb 4,2026
New Mexico program uses AI, satellites to find hidden water system leaks | Local News

The LeakTracer program grew out of a pilot launched last year, which ... The company's satellite imagery narrows down “points of interest” — areas where ...

Feb 4,2026
As satellites become critical infrastructure, here's what governments should note - GovInsider

Rather than managing every stage from R&D to launch, the state now fuels private sector innovation via tech transfers, funding and design labs. In his ...

Feb 4,2026
Amazon AWS CEO Matt Garman pushes back against Elon Musk's space data centers plan

... Images for Amazon Web ... satellites into orbit on its Falcon rockets, and Musk has floated ambitious plans to use its Starship rocket to launch ...

Feb 4,2026
Are data centers in space the new frontier? - Marketplace.org

Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images ... And then the way you scale beyond that, is you just launch more satellites, and you connect them together.

Feb 4,2026
Iran Debuts "Hatef-3" Satellite - Caspianpost.com

Its launch is intended to validate three key objectives in orbit: ... Satellite Images: Where U.S. Forces Are Deployed Around Iran. 03 Feb, 20 ...

Feb 4,2026
Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal: Crew Module Hatch Preparations and Closure - NASA

A full Moon is seen shining over NASA's SLS (Space Launch System) and Orion spacecraft in the early hours of Feb. 1, 2026, at Launch Complex 39B at ...

Feb 4,2026
Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal: Launch Abort System Hatch Closed - NASA

U.S.-India NISAR Satellite Images Mississippi River Delta Region. 3 min read. U.S.-India NISAR Satellite Images Mississippi River Delta Region.

Feb 4,2026
US Navy seeks commercial satellites for nighttime Earth observation - Defense News

However, nighttime satellite imagery can also be useful to the military and intelligence agencies. ... Space Development Agency launches first ...

Feb 4,2026
Iran: Satellite Images Show Repairs At Nuclear Sites Amid US Talks | Firstpost Live

Satellite imagery shows damage and limited repairs at Iranian nuclear sites previously struck by the US in June 2025. Tehran says its nuclear ...

Feb 4,2026
NASA Conducts Artemis II Fuel Test, Eyes March for Launch Opportunity

U.S.-India NISAR Satellite Images Mississippi River Delta Region. 3 min ...

Feb 4,2026
Surveyors use satellite imagery to track whales in remote areas - Business Crack

... satellite imagery and artificial intelligence to work out where they are. ... Innovative tourism degrees launched by University of Cumbria · 21 Lowther ...

Feb 4,2026
Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal: Test Terminated at T-5:15 - NASA

U.S.-India NISAR Satellite Images Mississippi River Delta Region. 3 min ... Spotlights illuminate NASA's Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket ...

Feb 4,2026
Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal: All SLS Stages in Replenish Mode - NASA

NASA teams have transitioned all cryogenic tanks on the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket to replenish mode during the Artemis II wet dress ...

Feb 4,2026
Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal: Entering Terminal Count at T-10 Minutes - NASA

Lights illuminate NASA's Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft at Launch Complex 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in ...

Feb 4,2026
Look Up: Here's How Many Starlink Satellites Are Flying Over You Right Now. And It's Just ...

... Images Group via Getty Images). Still, astronomers ... launch another 7,500 Starlink satellites, enabling it operate a total of 19,400 satellites.

Feb 4,2026
SpaceX Files Federal Request To Launch 1 Million AI Data Center Satellites Into Orbit

The Headquarters of SpaceX in Hawthorne, California, with a Falcon 9 booster in March Sven Piper/Getty Images. If you thought constructing massive ...

Feb 4,2026
NASA waves off February launch for Artemis II moon mission; now targeting early March

First images of Mars rover landing just a taste of what's to come ... SpaceX launches GPS 3 satellite following switch from ULA Vulcan rocket.

Feb 4,2026
Why did SpaceX just apply to launch 1 million satellites? | New Scientist

SpaceX says it wants to deploy an astronomical number of data centres in orbit to supply power for artificial intelligence, but the proposal might ...

Feb 4,2026
EO-MSI
Telespazio and Italian Space Agency to Upgrade Historic Fucino Antenna - Via Satellite

Technology Skynopy Wins New Airbus Deal for Pléiades Neo Ground Segment Enhancement ... “With Response, Telespazio and ASI are giving new life to an ...

Feb 4,2026
SpaceX aims for "heaven" with mega-fusion, while X experiences "hell" - NeoFeed

NeoFeed: Negócios, Empreendedorismo, Startups e Inovação. icon search ... On Monday, February 2nd, the owner of the rocket and satellite manufacturer ...

Feb 4,2026
2 Top Space Stocks to Buy Right Now - The Globe and Mail

Detailed price information for Blacksky Technology Inc (BKSY-N) from ... satellite constellation. That contract -- its largest to date ...

Feb 4,2026
Tomorrow.io Raises $175M to Build Out DeepSky Weather Constellation - Via Satellite

Technology Skynopy Wins New Airbus Deal for Pléiades Neo Ground Segment Enhancement ... Tomorrow.io operates a weather monitoring constellation and ...

Feb 4,2026
What's Going On With BlackSky Technology Stock? - Finviz

... BlackSky's advanced satellite capabilities. Overall, the multiple million-dollar contracts focus on advanced space-based dynamic monitoring ...

Feb 4,2026
Assessing Constellation Energy (CEG) After Sharp Price Pullback And Utilities Sector Spotlight

NEO logo · OOO97 on Neo Performance Materials · about 1 month ago. Undervalued Key Player in Magnets/Rare Earth. Fair Value:CA$25.3324.6% undervalued.

Feb 4,2026
2 Top Space Stocks to Buy Right Now - Finviz

... satellite constellation. That contract -- its largest to date -- will ... BlackSky Awarded Gen-3 Assured Services Contracts Totaling Seven ...

Feb 4,2026
2 Top Space Stocks to Buy Right Now - The Globe and Mail

Its top customers include NASA, the U.S. Space Force, the Swedish National Space Agency, Kinéis, and BlackSky Technology(NYSE: BKSY). It also ...

Feb 4,2026
BlackSky Technology Shares Rise on International Defense Contracts - MarketWatch

The stock rose 8.3% to $23.18 on Tuesday. Shares have gained 23% over the past three months. The Herndon, Va., satellite technology company said it ...

Feb 4,2026
Neo Financial secures $68.5M in equity, backed by 100+ Canadian investors to fuel ...

Neo for Partners powers financial solutions for over 10,000 partners across the country. To learn more, visit neofinancial.com. Story Continues.

Feb 4,2026
ST Engineering iDirect and Verizon Frontline Partner on Public Safety - AAP News

HERNDON, Va., Feb. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ST Engineering iDirect, a global leader in satellite communications, announced today its collaboration…

Feb 4,2026
BlackSky: Technical Breakdown of the Satellite Stock's Supply and Demand - AInvest

- BlackSky's stock forms an ascending triangle pattern, testing $23.58 resistance and $21.41 support after a 14.15% 5-day decline. - Key levels ...

Feb 4,2026
What's Going On With BlackSky Technology Stock? - Benzinga

BlackSky Technology shares jumped Tuesday after securing multiple Gen ... BlackSky's advanced satellite capabilities. Overall, the multiple ...

Feb 4,2026
BlackSky stock jumps after securing multi-figure contracts with defense client - Investing.com

The company's Gen-3 technology offers customers guaranteed, priority access to satellite capacity over specific operational areas of interest.

Feb 4,2026
Israel prepares new space 'surprises' for Iran war | The Jerusalem Post

The Israeli satellite constellation ... Systems such as Starlink and Maxar demonstrated how commercial platforms can shape battlefield outcomes.

Feb 4,2026
Overview of Segmentation, Market Dynamics, and Competitive - openPR.com

Ltd., ImageSat International NV, and Maxar Technologies. Lockheed Martin's Strategic Acquisition to Boost Satellite Reconnaissance Capabilities In ...

Feb 4,2026
BlackSky awarded Gen-3 assured services contracts totalling seven figures with new ...

BlackSky awarded Gen-3 assured services contracts totalling seven ... Satellite Evolution Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of DS Air Limited.

Feb 4,2026
BlackSky (BKSY) Secures Significant Gen-3 Contracts with New Def - GuruFocus

The company operates a low earth orbit satellite constellation, providing real-time geospatial intelligence. ... Its Spectra AI software platform ...

Feb 4,2026
BlackSky wins seven-figure Gen-3 Assured contracts with new international defense ...

BlackSky said it was awarded multiple Gen-3 Assured services ... BlackSky, Gen-3, Intelligence, satellite, space. Related news & articles.

Feb 4,2026
First Airbus Pléiades Neo Next Satellite Will Be Launched Early 2028

The first Airbus Pléiades Neo Next satellite is scheduled to be launched in early 2028 from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

Feb 4,2026
SAR
Milrem Robotics, EOS Partner to Advance Network-Centric Combat Robotics - APDR

Milrem Robotics and EOS Defence Systems sign a teaming agreement to develop network-centric collaborative combat robotics and advanced unmanned ...

Feb 4,2026
American high school student stuns scientists by mapping 1.5 million previously unknown ...

A young mind builds an AI breakthrough. Matteo Paz, a student at Pasadena High School, joined the Planet Finder Academy in the summer of 2022. The ...

Feb 4,2026
Young Turks Reloaded In Davos | India, A.I. & The New Global Order - CNBC TV18

... ICEYE. Co-founder and CEO Rafal Modrzewski explains how ICEYE is reshaping military and strategic intelligence through its constellation of 64 ...

Feb 4,2026
Milrem Robotics and EOS Sign Teaming Agreement | News - EOS-Aus.com

Satellite Laser Ranging · Space Sustainability · Precision Optics · WORK WITH ... (EOS). “This teaming agreement extends EOS' world-leading counter ...

Feb 4,2026
Fruit Farming 4.0: Digitization for Sustainability and Higher Yields - Growing Produce

... EOS Data Analytics satellite solution. By integrating weather data with real-time high-resolution satellite images, they didn't just guess their ...

Feb 4,2026
Bolivia drives digital opening with the arrival of Starlink - BNamericas

Fixed broadband Satellite Networks Satellite broadband Mobile broadband Fiber ... Paz in a message on the social network X. Paz indicated that ...

Feb 4,2026
SpaceX to launch free space situational awareness system - Unmanned airspace

Stargaze's screening data will be made available to the broader satellite operator community free of charge in the coming weeks. The system uses data ...

Feb 4,2026
PSLV failures: Ajit Doval visits VSSC, holds meeting with Director - The Hindu

... EOS-09 satellite. The PSLV-C62 mission had on board 16 satellites with the EOS-N1 satellite as the primary payload. Published - February 03, 2026 ...

Feb 4,2026
Viasat launches dedicated satellite service portfolio for government UAV operations

Milrem Robotics and EOS Defence ...

Feb 4,2026
Tsunamis from the Sky - Eos.org

... Satellite System) stations. This discovery opens a new avenue for future meteotsunami research. What are some of the remaining questions where ...

Feb 4,2026
As Jon Ive builds AI hardware with OpenAI, Apple reportedly tests an AI Pin: Will the iPhone survive?

Finnish satellite developer Iceye has raised €150 million in a new equity round led by General Catalyst and… ... By clicking submit, you agree to share ...

Feb 4,2026
ACMI Taps EOS Technology to Boost Domestic Additive Manufacturing

ESA Invests €73 Million in SWISSto12's HummingSat Satellite Program · Paloma Duran January 23rd 2026 - 11:45am. ACMI Taps EOS Technology to Boost ...

Feb 4,2026
Night sky, February 2026: What you can see tonight [maps] - Space

You can also use astronomy accessories to make your observing easier, and use our Satellite ... Capella, Castor and Pollux, and Procyon — covers ...

Feb 4,2026
SSA

Questions about Commercial Innovation Center (CIC)