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
Creeping Sovereignty? China's Maritime Structures in the Yellow Sea (West Sea)

For additional CSIS satellite imagery analysis of the permanent aquaculture platforms, see Chinese Platforms in the Yellow Sea's South Korea-China PMZ ...

Dec 9,2025
SSC Prepares HADES Contract for Cloud-Based Satellite R&D C2 Facility - GovCon Wire

It covers engineering, development, integration and sustainment services for the satellite ground systems and the Research, Development, Test and ...

Dec 9,2025
Zillow Deleting Climate Risk Scores Reveals Limits of Flood, Fire Data - Claims Journal

Ratings like those Zillow took down — which use the latest science, advanced computing and satellite imagery — are a big improvement on often ...

Dec 9,2025
Fidelis backed Navium Marine launches satellite pre-launch consortium at Lloyd's

... satellite pre-launch consortium in the Lloyd's market. satellite imagery The consortium will draw on capacity from roughly ten markets to offer a ...

Dec 9,2025
Image of the week: Storm Bram hits Ireland and the UK | EUMETSAT

This week's image is of Storm Bram. The image was captured on 9 December by the Meteosat-12 geostationary weather satellite, 36,000km above the Earth.

Dec 9,2025
Live coverage: SpaceX to launch classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office

Image: SpaceX. Some missions though, like the NROL-146 mission and other flights supporting the NRO's so-called proliferated architecture satellite ...

Dec 9,2025
Satellite Constellations May Ruin Up To 96% Of Astronomy Pictures Even From Telescopes In Space

... satellite constellations will ruin ground-based astronomy. Passing satellites leave streaks of light pollution on an observatory's long-exposure image ...

Dec 9,2025
Planet Releases First Light Image From Pelican-6 - Business Wire

More information about Pelican capabilities can be found here. About Planet Labs PBC. Planet is a leading provider of global, daily satellite imagery ...

Dec 9,2025
Inside the network watching the world in real time - Freethink

By combining rapid satellite imaging with AI-driven analysis, BlackSky gives decision-makers visibility in moments that matter. In partnership ...

Dec 9,2025
GeoFlame VISION: Using AI and satellite imagery to predict future wildfire risk - Phys.org

To create the map, the researchers used satellite imagery data from NASA's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) to extract ...

Dec 9,2025
Preliminary Permits Filed For Fourth Safeway Redevelopment in the Marina, San Francisco

... 15 Marina Boulevard, image via Google Satellite. Demolition will be required for the existing 1959-built structure, a ...

Dec 9,2025
Symposium on Forensic and Counter-Forensic Approaches to International Law: Genocide in Gaza

... commercial satellite imagery of Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories at a higher resolution than what is already available from non-US ...

Dec 9,2025
NASA's Hubble telescope gets another look at 3I/ATLAS. Here's what it found - USA Today

... Gannett Classifieds Blueprint WITNESS (True Crime) Home Internet Services. © 2025 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC.

Dec 9,2025
Rogers launches satellite-to-mobile service in Canada | Reuters

Canada's Rogers Communications launched Rogers Satellite on Tuesday, a direct satellite-to-mobile service, allowing users to remain connected in ...

Dec 9,2025
Spire Global Power Generation Forecasts Expand to ERCOT - Fidelity Investments

( SPIR ) (“Spire” or “the Company”), a leading global provider of satellite data, analytics and intelligence, announced the expansion of its AI ...

Dec 9,2025
Poland shows first photos taken by new radar satellite - TVP World

Its continuous imaging capability is also designed to help assess ... commercial satellite. Poland now plans to acquire three or more ...

Dec 9,2025
Satellite images show the scale of destruction from Asia floods - Al Jazeera

Satellite images show the scale of destruction from Asia floods ... Heavy tropical storms and torrential monsoon rains have triggered massive floods and ...

Dec 9,2025
Airbus fosters Barry Callebaut`s efforts to develop a deforestation-free supply chain

... satellite imagery at various resolutions ranging from 10m to Pléiades Neo's 30cm resolution. With real eyes in the sky, satellite imagery empowers ...

Dec 9,2025
Philippines cyclones, Singaporean Chinese dubbed 'least attractive': 7 Asia highlights

Satellite imagery taken by the US' National Oceanic and Atmospheric ... Satellite imagery shows Super Typhoon Fung-wong as it approaches the ...

Dec 9,2025
Rating agency partners with satellite MRV specialist to boost global forest carbon measurement

A rating agency has teamed up with a satellite-based biomass measurement company to advance the accuracy and transparency of forest carbon ...

Dec 9,2025
Satellite Launches
Fidelis backed Navium Marine launches satellite pre-launch consortium at Lloyd's

... launched Constellation Consortium, the largest satellite pre-launch consortium in the Lloyd's market. satellite imagery The consortium will draw ...

Dec 9,2025
Watch SpaceX launch mystery mission for the US military today | Space

The NRO, which is part of the Department of Defense, operates the United States' fleet of spy satellites. Those spacecraft and their missions tend to ...

Dec 9,2025
Image of the week: Storm Bram hits Ireland and the UK | EUMETSAT

The Meteosat weather satellites provide imagery for the early detection ... Upcoming launches. What we monitor. Atmosphere · Climate · Land · Ocean.

Dec 9,2025
AST SpaceMobile Eyes Up To 13 Launches Through 2026 | Aviation Week Network

... launches next year to build out its satellite communications constellation. The company is gearing up for the first launch of its Blk. 2 BlueBird ...

Dec 9,2025
Startup announces 'Galactic Brain' project to put AI data centers in orbit | Space

The company hopes to launch its first power-beaming demonstration satellite to low Earth orbit sometime in 2026.

Dec 9,2025
Planet Releases First Light Image From Pelican-6 - Business Wire

“We're proud to share first light imagery from our latest Pelican satellite. We had first light the day after launch, and I'm incredibly proud of the ...

Dec 9,2025
Rogers Satellite service launches in remote parts of Ontario after beta period - Global News

Rogers Satellite service launches in remote parts of Ontario after beta period ... The Canadian Press Images/Lars Hagberg. Leave a comment. Share this ...

Dec 9,2025
Muon Space to develop sensor payload for missile defense satellites - SpaceNews

... imaging system for environmental monitoring and weather imaging. Muon ... Proteus Space Launches First AI Designed Spacecraft, Sets Multiple Records ...

Dec 9,2025
NASA's Hubble telescope gets another look at 3I/ATLAS. Here's what it found - USA Today

New 3I/ATLAS images from NASA and the ESA suggest the interstellar ... When could Starliner launch again? NASA, Boeing plan 2026 uncrewed ...

Dec 9,2025
Rogers launches satellite-to-mobile service in Canada | Reuters

Canada's Rogers Communications launched Rogers Satellite on Tuesday, a direct satellite-to-mobile service, allowing users to remain connected in ...

Dec 9,2025
Galileo pre-launch media briefing - ESA

... Images. About ESA. The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe's ... The briefing covers the mission details for the launch of two Galileo satellites ...

Dec 9,2025
Poland shows first photos taken by new radar satellite - TVP World

The initial images include views of Warsaw, Gdańsk, the Tatra Mountains and the border region.

Dec 9,2025
Satellite Constellations May Ruin Up To 96% Of Astronomy Pictures Even From Telescopes In Space

... images will have at least one satellite streak in them ... NASA ran its analysis on the assumption that all currently proposed satellites will launch ...

Dec 9,2025
Sentinel-1D delivers stunning images just two days after launch - Earth.com

A new radar satellite, Sentinel-1D, delivers sharp images of Antarctica, South America, and Europe just days after launch.

Dec 9,2025
Amazon Leo and Arianespace set sail for first launch on Ariane 6

Amazon's low Earth orbit satellite network, Amazon Leo, reached another milestone this week as Arianespace's hybrid industrial cargo ship, Canopée, ...

Dec 9,2025
China launches group of internet satellites into space - Anadolu Ajansı

Satellites successfully deployed into orbit by Long March-6A rocket from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi province - Anadolu Ajansı.

Dec 9,2025
Airbus fosters Barry Callebaut`s efforts to develop a deforestation-free supply chain

... satellite imagery at various resolutions ranging from 10m to Pléiades Neo's 30cm resolution. ... Starling, launched in 2016 as a joint initiative ...

Dec 9,2025
Applying the Principles of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle to Space - Universe Today

And with the rapid growth of commercial launch services and the proliferation of satellite constellations, the situation is only likely to get worse.

Dec 9,2025
Philippines cyclones, Singaporean Chinese dubbed 'least attractive': 7 Asia highlights

Thailand launches air strikes on Cambodia after soldier killed ... Satellite imagery shows Super Typhoon Fung-wong as it approaches the ...

Dec 9,2025
Update: Major Port Grows at World's Biggest Construction Site - Newsweek

Recent satellite imagery shows steady progress at the Oxagon Port in ... launch of initial port operations and services. Newsweek reached out ...

Dec 9,2025
EO-MSI
Satellite-as-a-Service (SataaS) Market to Surge to USD 24.74 - openPR.com

Major Players Planet Labs (US), Maxar Technologies (US), Spire Global (US), BlackSky (US), ICEYE (FI), Satellogic (AR), HawkEye 360 (US), OroraTech ( ...

Dec 9,2025
Jump Financial LLC Grows Position in BlackSky Technology Inc. $BKSY - MarketBeat

Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in BlackSky Technology by 7.3% in the second quarter. ... satellite and ground systems for ...

Dec 9,2025
Artificial Intelligence Uncovers 5,000-Year-Old Civilizations Hidden Beneath the World's ...

By analyzing WorldView-3 satellite imagery and feeding it into AI models trained on archaeological signatures—like clustered structures and ...

Dec 9,2025
Apps including weather, Google Maps and WhatsApp now available on Rogers Satellite

Rogers Communication launched text messaging services on their first-of-its-kind satellite beta program back in July. It will launch commercially on ...

Dec 9,2025
Airbus fosters Barry Callebaut`s efforts to develop a deforestation-free supply chain

... Neo 30cm resolution satellite imagery. @Pléiades Neo Airbus DS 2023. @BarryCallebaut @EarthwormFoundation. #Sustainability #Starling #PleiadesNeo ...

Dec 9,2025
Iran continues to 'violate its international obligations' as it blocks IAEA inspections - Rudaw

This handout satellite image released by Maxar Technologies on June 19, 2025 and taken on June 18, 2025, shows a view of the Iranian nuclear facility ...

Dec 9,2025
TotalEnergies to Merge UK Assets With Neo Next JV | Energy Intelligence

That puts it well ahead of the Shell-Equinor Adura JV and the Eni satellite Ithaca Energy, which are both guiding for output of 140,000 boe-145,000 ...

Dec 9,2025
Satellite Market to Reach USD 15.52 Billion by 2035 With a CAGR - openPR.com

... Maxar Technologies (US) Several key factors are propelling the satellite market forward. Government initiatives in Earth observation and remote ...

Dec 9,2025
Satellite pics reveal NINE US warships in Caribbean as tensions with Venezuela escalate

Go to channel · The Most Controversial Place America Owns. neo•1.1M views · 20:29 · Go to channel · Nothing About Octopus Is Normal… Here's Why. Mr.

Dec 9,2025
Enhancing monocular height estimation via sparse LiDAR-guided correction - ScienceDirect

For instance, the WorldView1 satellite series can now offer sub-meter ... Ghamisi and Yokoya, 2018a, Li et al., 2023). Yet, like traditional ...

Dec 9,2025
Starlink India pricing revealed: How much does the monthly plan cost and what are the benefits?

Starlink, SpaceX's satellite internet service, has launched its residential plan in India at ₹8600/month with ₹34000 hardware ... NeoBihar ChunaviPhone ...

Dec 9,2025
SAR
4 Takeaways: Terran Orbital on the Industrialization of Space - Space Intel Report

ESA hopes to boost government support for EU reconnaissance constellation in coming months; initial milestone in February ... 4 Takeaways: Umbra on How ...

Dec 9,2025
Scientist offers more proof to bolster claim colossal structures lie under Egyptian pyramids

Speaking with Jesse Michels on his American Alchemy podcast, he stated that four independent satellite operators - Umbra, Capella Space, ICEYE and ...

Dec 9,2025
Finland's ICEYE Closes €150 Million Series E Funding Round - European Spaceflight

Finnish Earth observation data provider and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite manufacturer ICEYE has closed a new funding round, ...

Dec 9,2025
Satellite-as-a-Service (SataaS) Market to Surge to USD 24.74 - openPR.com

... Satellite Connectivity & Data Services - published on openPR ... ICEYE (FI), Satellogic (AR), HawkEye 360 (US), OroraTech (DE) "Request ...

Dec 9,2025
Researchers claim 'massive hidden structures' lay buried beneath Giza Pyramids

... satellite operators - Umbra, Capella Space, ICEYE, and Italy's Cosmo-SkyMed - all produced identical raw tomography data displaying the same ...

Dec 9,2025
Poland shows first photos taken by new radar satellite - TVP World

Poland has released the first images from its new military radar satellite ICEYE, a system capable of photographing Earth clearly at any time of day ...

Dec 9,2025
New Tech Partnership Should Improve Risk & Cat Modelling - - Insurance Edge

ICEYE, the global leader in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite data and natural catastrophe solutions, and Risk Management Partners – a unit ...

Dec 9,2025
Molten leads Modo funding round, partially realises ICEYE holding

... ICEYE Oy. The technology-focused venture capital firm ... ICEYE Espoo, a Finland-based synthetic aperture radar satellite designer and operator.

Dec 9,2025
ICEYE Secures New Funding in Successful Series E Round led by General Catalyst

ICEYE has secured EUR 150 million in new funding to accelerate its delivery of sovereign satellite systems and data intelligence services.

Dec 9,2025
'Hidden megastructures' beneath Egypt's Giza pyramids 'detected' by scientists

... satellite operators - Umbra, Capella Space, ICEYE, and Italy's Cosmo-SkyMed - each generated identical raw tomography data pointing to the same ...

Dec 9,2025
ICEYE partners with Munich Re unit to expand access to nat cat intelligence

ICEYE, a global leader in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite data and natural catastrophe solutions, has entered into a new strategic ...

Dec 9,2025
Giza Pyramids 'just tip of iceberg' as scientist 'confirm' hidden structures beneath

... satellite operators - Umbra, Capella Space, ICEYE, and Italy's Cosmo-SkyMed - each generated matching raw tomography data pointing to the same ...

Dec 9,2025
Molten takes some profits in Seraphim-backed ICEYE after satellite company hits £2.1bn ...

Molten Ventures (GROW) has taken £17.5m in gains from ICEYE, the Finnish satellite operator which it says recently secured a €2.4bn (£2.1bn) ...

Dec 9,2025
Gatehouse Satcom Joins Forces with Cobham Satcom for a Global 5G Satellite ...

... satellite industry's transition towards standardized 5G-based ... ICEYE, OHB Italia, and C3S's. December 1, 2025 News | Space for Earth ...

Dec 9,2025
Molten Ventures Invests in Modo Energy and Realises Value in ICEYE - WebDisclosure

In a separate move, Molten Ventures has partially realised its investment in ICEYE—a company operating the world's largest SAR satellite constellation ...

Dec 9,2025
Modo Energy Series B investment, and ICEYE fundraise with partial realisation

ICEYE operates the world's largest synthetic aperture radar (“SAR”) satellite constellation, providing objective, near real-time insights to ...

Dec 9,2025
Molten Ventures leads £25m funding round for Modo Energy - Investing.com

ICEYE operates what it describes as the world's largest SAR satellite constellation, with 62 satellites launched to date. The company plans to ...

Dec 9,2025
Giza pyramids 'tip of iceberg', above megastructures scientists claim | History - Daily Express

... satellite operators - Umbra, Capella Space, ICEYE, and Italy's Cosmo-SkyMed - each generated identical raw tomography data showing the same ...

Dec 9,2025
Icom Brings New Connectivity to Remote Crews - Digital Ship

Icom UK is now offering a straightforward alternative by pairing the Icom IP110H Wi Fi transceiver with the Starlink satellite service. ... ICEYE US to ...

Dec 9,2025
Scientists 'confirm' existence of hidden megastructures beneath Egypt's Giza pyramids

... satellite operators —Umbra, Capella Space, ICEYE, and Italy's Cosmo-SkyMed — each produced matching raw tomography data indicating the same ...

Dec 9,2025
RF
SSA

Questions about Commercial Innovation Center (CIC)