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
satellite imagery - Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN)

satellite imagery. 41 posts. Methodology. Tracking a Mysterious Missile Launcher Inside an Information War. by Henk van Ess • March 6, 2017. Egyptian ...

Jan 5,2026
Satellite Imagery Shows Sanctioned Oil Tankers Departing Venezuela in Apparent ... - NewsBreak

A satellite image reportedly shows three sanctioned tankers left Venezuela's main oil port on Saturday. Satellite image via Copernicus Multiple ...

Jan 5,2026
If you look at satellite imagery, you can find Saddam Hussein hiding spot in russia (the part ...

If you look at satellite imagery, you can find Saddam Hussein hiding ...

Jan 5,2026
'Space particle' slams into Spain's new communications satellite high above Earth

Spain's latest military communications satellite suffered a debris impact while headed to its orbital destination. The extent of the damage is ...

Jan 5,2026
CES 2026: Satellite-based Bluetooth connectivity expands reach with new partnership

Hubble Network, which launched the world's first satellite-powered ... Granada, Andalusia, Spain. Artificial Intelligence (AI) · New AI edge ...

Jan 5,2026
Spanish Communications Satellite Damaged During Maneuvering - It Was Launched Last Fall

The Spanish satellite SpainSat NG II was damaged during a maneuver to reach its final orbit ... Intelligence of Ukraine Releases Video of ...

Jan 5,2026
4iG Space and Defence CEO Sárhegyi Explains Axiom Space Investment, Previews ...

VIA SATELLITE: How is 4iG SDT looking to grow its capabilities in terms of defense and intelligence? How important is the defense side of things for ...

Jan 5,2026
Satellite imagery captures the scale of destruction from US strikes at the Fuerte Tiuna ... - Facebook

Satellite imagery captures the scale of destruction from US strikes at the Fuerte Tiuna military base, where Venezuelan officials say president ...

Jan 5,2026
Emergency weather warning issued for the west and northeast - eKathimerini.com

Satellite image shows Lemnos blanketed in snow after New Year's storm. NEWS. Satellite image shows Lemnos blanketed in snow after New Year's storm.

Jan 5,2026
Formless, Faceless, Directionless: Earthworms Defy Architectural Logic

Their investigation combined archaeology, paleobotany, and soil science with the tools of Forensic Architecture (aerial photography, satellite imagery ...

Jan 5,2026
David Gioe and Doug Chalmers ask if Europe could take on Russia without American help

Without American satellite intelligence, Europe would be forced to rely on a patchwork of national assets and potentially unreliable private ...

Jan 5,2026
Animated Monday GOES WEST weather satellite animation. The Hawaiian Islands are ... - Facebook

Animated Monday GOES WEST weather satellite animation. The Hawaiian Islands are highlighted. Imagery courtesy of CIRA-RAMBB at Colorado State.

Jan 5,2026
Space Sector Transitions to Critical Global Infrastructure Status Amid $1 Trillion Proliferation

The 2025 Security Landscape · Sophisticated Cyber Intrusions: Targeted attacks on ground segments and satellite command-and-control (C2) links intended ...

Jan 5,2026
Kim Jong Un inspects mega greenhouse farm for 7th time ahead of Party Congress

... Image: KCNA (Jan. 3, 2026). NK Pro analysis of satellite imagery has suggested that the new greenhouse farm occupies roughly 2,026 acres (820 ...

Jan 5,2026
Iran's Nuclear Program Continues - Construction of Taleghan 2 Complex is Underway

The exact purpose of this object cannot be determined solely from satellite imagery, but its shape and metal construction are consistent with the ...

Jan 5,2026
Tropical Cyclone 12S (Jenna) - Pacific Disaster Center

Cloud top temperatures continue to cool as seen on animated enhanced infrared (eir) satellite imagery. Environmental analysis reveals marginally ...

Jan 5,2026
UN team enters Sudanese city of El Fasher after paramilitary massacre: 'It's like a ghost town'

The situation witnessed on the ground is consistent with what has been indicated by the satellite imagery. In November, HRL did not identify ...

Jan 5,2026
Satellite Revisit Rates Explained for Earth Observation - XrTech Group

A revisit rate explains how often a satellite or a group of satellites can capture imagery of the same location on Earth. Whether the goal is to ...

Jan 5,2026
What is Satellite Imagery Resolution? Choose from 30cm-50m - XrTech Group

Learn satellite imagery resolution explained simply. Compare spatial and spectral detail and choose the right data with XRTech Group.

Jan 5,2026
Newly captured satellite imagery reveals a large burned area covering approximately 800,000 ...

Newly captured satellite imagery reveals a large burned area covering approximately 800,000 m² at Nyala Airport in South Darfur, Sudan .

Jan 5,2026
Satellite Launches
Starlink reports debris-producing satellite anomaly - SPACE & DEFENSE

... Launch to host space missions for INNOSPACE · Aus in Space · Drones ... Follow-up imagery collected by a commercial Earth-observation satellite ...

Jan 5,2026
Vandenberg Explores More Launch Pads to Meet Surging Demand - Air & Space Forces Magazine

Payload processing encompasses integration, testing, and fueling necessary to prepare a satellite for launch. High launch demand has created a ...

Jan 5,2026
Array Labs Raises $20M to Scale Radar Manufacturing, Prepare for Launch

Data products: 3D imagery and analytics from Array's owned and operated satellite constellation, delivered to commercial and civil customers.

Jan 5,2026
Moon rush: These private spacecraft will attempt lunar landings in 2026 | Space

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation mission for the Italian. SpaceX launches Italian Earth-observing satellite to ...

Jan 5,2026
Aviation Grapples with Rising Threat from Falling Space Debris - DongA Science

Skyrocketing Space Debris Prompts Urgent Calls for Satellite Launch 'Restrictions'.

Jan 5,2026
A brief breather after a busy launch year - Astronomy Magazine

... and the Twilight rideshare featuring NASA's exoplanet-focused Pandora satellite, while ISRO returns to flight with a hyperspectral imaging satellite.

Jan 5,2026
Spanish Communications Satellite Damaged During Maneuvering - It Was Launched Last Fall

The Spanish satellite SpainSat NG II was damaged during a maneuver to reach its final orbit.

Jan 5,2026
Inside the Box: The future of data centers is out of this world | Jefferson Public Radio

The rise of AI-everything—from chatbots to generative-AI tools that can create images ... launch a constellation of solar-powered AI compute satellites ...

Jan 5,2026
Array Labs raises $20 million to scale production of radar satellites for 3D Earth mapping

Illustration of Array Labs imaging satellites. WASHINGTON — Array Labs ... Array launched two demonstration satellites in 2024 to validate its ...

Jan 5,2026
SpaceX deploys COSMO-Skymed satellite in amazing view from space - YouTube

SpaceX deployed Italy's second generation COSMO-Skymed satellite shortly after launch ... 1 MIN AGO: 17 Hubble Images Show 3I/ATLAS Has Changed.

Jan 5,2026
Soundcore's Nebula P1i portable projector launches in early 2026 for $369 - Engadget

The sound system, meanwhile, features a floating subwoofer, 80W soundbar speakers and two wireless satellite speakers for 7.1.4 surround sound. It ...

Jan 5,2026
$2.3B more sought by SC colleges includes extraterrestrial request

Now it's time to launch the shoebox-sized satellite into orbit, where ... The unmanned vehicle and satellite will work in tandem collecting images ...

Jan 5,2026
Space Policy Needs Reform Experts Say - The Streetwise Reports

... launch smaller satellites. According to a December 2025 article ... satellite, launch, defense, communications, tourism, and imagery companies.

Jan 5,2026
Synthetic-aperture radar satellite for Earth observation launched by Thales

... to support an Italian Space Agency and Italian Ministry of Defense dual-use radar imaging constellation, Thales Alenia Space announced in a statement.

Jan 5,2026
SpaceX's market share in the commercial space launch industry: What investors need to know

Manuel Mazzanti // NurPhoto via Getty Images ... U.S. payloads accounted for 85% of the total, with Starlink satellites launched by SpaceX making up the ...

Jan 5,2026
U.S. Space and Cyber Commands Support Massive Air Assault to Capture Maduro

High-altitude satellite imagery and RQ-170 Sentinel stealth drones ... The aerial component was launched from more than 20 locations across ...

Jan 5,2026
Iran's Nuclear Program Continues - Construction of Taleghan 2 Complex is Underway

Source: ISIS. Construction of the new facility has been underway for several months. Satellite images taken between September and November 2025 show ...

Jan 5,2026
Satellite photos show impact of Trump's strikes on Venezuelan neighbourhoods

Satellite images show Caracas neighbourhood before and after US strikes. An American military operation, launched by Donald Trump, conducted large ...

Jan 5,2026
January full moon wows skywatchers with a striking 'Wolf Supermoon' (photos) - Space

See gorgeous images of the January full moon, as captured in spectacular fashion by the astrophotography community.

Jan 5,2026
Satellite imagery shows Caracas neighbourhoods before and after Donald Trump launched ...

Satellite imagery shows Caracas neighbourhoods before and after Donald Trump launched strikes on the Venezuelan capital. On Saturday (2 January), ...

Jan 5,2026
HSI
SSA

Questions about Commercial Innovation Center (CIC)