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
Large ice crack on Lake Erie seen from space - Columbus - 10TV

Satellite imagery on Sunday showed a large crack in the ice across Lake Erie. Author: Aaron White. Published: 9:16 PM EST February 8, 2026. Updated ...

Feb 9,2026
Training the next generation of professionals in PNT and Satellite Navigation

Professor Suelynn Choy specialises in applications and methods of accurate and reliable positioning, and satellite remote sensing of the Earth ...

Feb 9,2026
Literally. In just a few hours Sunday, a massive crack over 80 miles long formed in the ice in ...

This crack is so large, it's visible from GOES-19 Satellite in space! 🛰️ · May be an image of map, arctic and text that says 'Massive Lake Erie.

Feb 9,2026
Darkwaves research allows scientists to measure impact of 'underwater blackouts' on marine life

Satellite imagery of the ocean. Left image shows clear outlines of reef. Right image. Satellite imagery of Monkey Mia, Shark Bay, in 2006 (left) ...

Feb 9,2026
Sunday Weather | Heavy rain, strong winds, and snow continue to affect the state - KITV

Feb 8, 2026 Updated 4 hrs ago. Facebook · Twitter · WhatsApp · SMS · Email. forecast 2.8.26. Satellite image courtesy of NOAA. Facebook · Twitter ...

Feb 9,2026
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin launches satellite network to compete with Elon Musk's Starlink

TeraWave adds another satellite network linked to Bezos. He is also ... Artificial Intelligence · ⚡️ Energy · ✍ Essays · Food Tech ...

Feb 9,2026
NASA selects UC San Diego-led satellite mission to track Earth's changing systems

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — NASA has selected two new satellite missions aimed at improving scientists' ability to better understand Earth's changing ...

Feb 9,2026
Check this out! Visible satellite imagery showing the massive ice sheet on Lake Erie ...

Collin Gross (@CollinGrossWx). 706 likes 14 replies. Check this out! Visible satellite imagery showing the massive ice sheet on Lake Erie ...

Feb 9,2026
Great visible satellite image from GOES-19... Note the amount of ice coverage on Lake Erie ...

WHEC_Glenn Johnson (@Roc_wx_leader). 4 likes 590 views. Great visible satellite image from GOES-19... Note the amount of ice coverage on Lake Erie ...

Feb 9,2026
A large crack in the ice has formed across Lake Erie today. Here's a satellite image ... - Facebook

A large crack in the ice has formed across Lake Erie today. Here's a satellite image taken around 2:30 PM EST showing the extent of the crack from ...

Feb 9,2026
Great visible satellite image from GOES-19... Note the amount of ice coverage on Lake Erie ...

Great visible satellite image from GOES-19... Note the amount of ice coverage on Lake Erie which is near 95%. Lake Ontario only at about 22% (but ...

Feb 9,2026
Planned launch of 500,000 satellites may blind Hubble forever - Earth.com

A satellite trail, a bright line during a camera exposure, forms when ... In the scenarios tested, an average Hubble image had two trails, while ...

Feb 9,2026
On sunny winter days like today, we can view on satellite imagery snow cover and ice on ...

NWS Albany (@NWSAlbany). 13 likes 751 views. On sunny winter days like today, we can view on satellite imagery snow cover and ice on lakes.

Feb 9,2026
A Single Space Image Reveals the Scale and Sprawl of Italy's Olympic Games

A Sentinel-2 satellite image reveals the vast scale of Italy's 2026 Winter Olympics, from Alpine venues to Milan and Venice.

Feb 9,2026
This is breathtaking and also very rare! Satellite imagery released by NESDIS shows ... - Threads

Josh (@severeweatherus). 5 Replies. This is breathtaking and also very rare! Satellite imagery released by NESDIS shows rare “cloud streets” ...

Feb 9,2026
'Winds that sound like banshees': residents told to take shelter as Pilbara braces for Tropical ...

... Satellite viewer showing Tropical Cyclone Mitchell approaching the WA ... intelligence phone call about a person close to Trump. Zohran ...

Feb 9,2026
Rain looking to move in Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday - KSBW

... SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOW WHERE THE CLOUDS ARE AND IF ANY RAIN IS HAPPENING IN THE STATE CURRENTLY HERE IS A LOOK AT STATE TEMPERATURES. KSBW logo.

Feb 9,2026
In June 2025, a Russian satellite released a smaller probe that was nesting within it - Instagram

May be an image of satellite. mediabandhuindia. Silent Hunters in Orbit ... What happens when a single commercial satellite system becomes the backbone ...

Feb 9,2026
Microbubblers, sediments, and algae: What 2025 taught us and where the Science goes next

... satellite imagery. His research confirmed that yes, the aeration system is working - and you can see those results from space. Any Additional ...

Feb 9,2026
US Gold Production By State: Annual Gold Mining Trends 2026

... intelligence and satellite data for improving resource targeting. Accurate regional intelligence can maximize ROI while minimizing exploration risk.

Feb 9,2026
Satellite Launches
EarthDaily to launch nine satellites this year and early 2027 for agriculture sector

... images in the rainy season. This will likely increase once the satellites are launched. India strategy. Asked if Indian farmers will find ...

Feb 9,2026
Proton-M rocket with satellite to blast off from Baikonur - Qazinform

The Proton-M carrier rocket carrying the Electro-L No. 5 satellite will be launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on February 12, Russia's state ...

Feb 9,2026
Globe Telecom Seals Agreement with Starlink to Launch First Southeast Asia Direct‑to‑Cell ...

Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. graces the signing of the partnership between Globe and Starlink's Direct-to-Cell satellite service, the ...

Feb 9,2026
Azista Space Achieves India's First In-Orbit Snooping Capability - GKToday

... satellite, the company captured images of the ... OmanSat-1: Oman's First National Communications Satellite Launched.

Feb 9,2026
Fire and ice: how satellite data helps illustrate Europe's changing landscape

... launched today by the European Environment Agency, which aim to ... imagery available through the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS).

Feb 9,2026
X Report 8 Feb 2026 - KeepTrack.space

SpaceX successfully returned to flight with the launch of Starlink satellites, while key tests for the upcoming Crew-12 mission are underway.

Feb 9,2026
Defence launches new Space roles in the ADF

Satellite communications. Position, navigation and timing. Space domain ... Media can access imagery/vision at https://images.defence.gov.au ...

Feb 9,2026
Flamingo vs Oreshnik: Ukraine's GenStaff claims damage to Russia's Oreshnik launch site

Confirmed damage to missile servicing facilities · Other reported strikes on 7-8 February · Satellite imagery points to pre-launch complex damage.

Feb 9,2026
In a first for India, a desi aerospace firm gains in-orbit snooping capability, takes images of ISS

AFR, which was launched in space by SpaceX's Falcon-9 as part of ... satellites and satellite subsystems. Its personnel are also involved in ...

Feb 9,2026
Planned launch of 500,000 satellites may blind Hubble forever - Earth.com

Planned launch of 500000 satellites could spoil about one in three Hubble images, even when the telescope stays above Earth's weather.

Feb 9,2026
India-built satellite clicks International Space Station while in orbit - OrissaPOST

The 80-kg AFR satellite, launched in 2023, snapped images of the ISS in ... According to him, the plan is to incorporate this payload feature in other ...

Feb 9,2026
Airbus will launch a small gem into space that will leave rivals behind with a new 20 cm high ...

Satellite Imaging. The engineers at Airbus like to joke that their newest satellite is “about the size of a washing machine and ...

Feb 9,2026
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin launches satellite network to compete with Elon Musk's Starlink

Blue Origin plans to launch 5408 satellites for a new communications network called TeraWave. The network will be able to deliver data speeds of ...

Feb 9,2026
SpaceX launches return to flight Falcon 9 mission following brief stand down

The Starlink 17-33 mission adds 25 Starlink satellites to the company's megaconstellation in low Earth orbit. There a more than 9,600 satellites ...

Feb 9,2026
China Launches Fourth Reusable Spacecraft Amid Global Race - Grand Pinnacle Tribune

The mission was conducted from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center using a Long March-2F rocket amid growing global competition and commercialization of ...

Feb 9,2026
Blue Origin Is Coming For SpaceX With Over 5,000 Satellites Launching Sooner Than You'd Think

Rodriguez Carrillo/Getty Images ... Blue Origin, the Space exploration company owned by Amazon titan Jeff Bezos,announced its latest plans to launch its ...

Feb 9,2026
Space Tech News: India Now Has Capability to Track and Image Enemy Satellites in Orbit

... Satellite Imaging Milestone. Photo Credit. Other. Highlights. Azista ... Launch: What We Know So Far · Science News /NASA Moves up Crew-12 Launch ...

Feb 9,2026
ISRO's GISAT-1A satellite to launch soon: What we know - NewsBytes

... launch preparations. Satellite capabilities. What is GISAT-1A? GISAT-1A is a geo-imaging satellite that will provide near real-time images of Earth.

Feb 9,2026
China steps up reusable spaceflight efforts with fourth orbital launch - AeroTime

... Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on February 7, 2026. Local authorities released no images of the launch and provided no details on the ...

Feb 9,2026
Amazon Leo (former Project Kuiper) Explained: Satellite Internet From Space

Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper) is deploying 3236 LEO satellites for global broadband. Learn about terminals, pricing, launch schedule, ...

Feb 9,2026
EO-MSI
Western US is in significant 'snow drought': what it means for Nebraska and Iowa - KMTV

This year, it's a much different story, with only the tallest mountains having any snow. 2026 Satellite Image.jpg. NASA Worldview. Satellite image ...

Feb 9,2026
NASA selects UC San Diego-led satellite mission to track Earth's changing systems

According to NASA, the EDGE satellite will provide high-resolution measurements that could help scientists better monitor how Earth's surface is ...

Feb 9,2026
Saudi space technology plays growing role in conflict and disaster zones: NSG executive

Hassan Al-Johani, vice president of business development at Neo Space Group, spoke on the sidelines of the World Defense Show in Riyadh, which has ...

Feb 9,2026
Iran Defies US Threats to Insist on Right to Enrich Uranium - The Defense Post

Gen-3 satellite · BlackSky Secures New International Defense Contracts for ISR Satellite Subscription. February 6, 2026. Palladyne AI Flies Fully ...

Feb 9,2026
Saudi space technology plays growing role in conflict and disaster zones: NSG executive

Hassan Al-Johani, vice president of business development at Neo Space Group, spoke on the sidelines of the World Defense Show in Riyadh,

Feb 9,2026
Iran reveals unexploded US bombs remain at nuclear sites - Türkiye Today

(Photo by Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies/AFP). By Newsroom. February 08, 2026 04:20 PM GMT+03:00. Newsletters Set as preferred source Share.

Feb 9,2026
SpaceX resumes Falcon 9 flights with Starlink satellite launch from California

11:00 Premiere of animated series “Isi and Piti” held at Ganja State Drama Theater. 10:00 Leyla Aliyeva and Alena Aliyeva visit STEAM center and ...

Feb 9,2026
SpaceX resumes Falcon 9 flights with Starlink satellite launch from California - Report.az

Premiere of animated series "Isi and Piti" held at Ganja State Drama Theater ... It is important to refer to the use of materials on this site. When ...

Feb 9,2026
Earth Observation Market Set to Reach USD 14.55 Billion by 2034, As Satellite Data Demand Rises

Maxar Technologies Planet Labs ICEYE Capella Space BlackSky. Spire Global Satellogic Thales Alenia Space Future Outlook The global earth ...

Feb 9,2026
SpaceX's new system can prevent satellite collisions using stargazing - NewsBytes

SpaceX's Starlink satellite constellation is now also functioning as the Stargaze Space Situational Awareness system, managing traffic in low ...

Feb 9,2026
SAR
EOS technology: French army tests drones in the Alps - Militär Aktuell

Reflex Aerospace receives record investment for European satellite programs · Wirtschaft · AllInternationalSaabRheinmetallDiehl DefenseLockheed-Martin ...

Feb 9,2026
Space Tech News: India Now Has Capability to Track and Image Enemy Satellites in Orbit

... satellite, marking a first for the country's private industry and a ... EOS-N1 Satellite · ISRO /PSLV Launch Anomaly Results in Loss of DRDO's ...

Feb 9,2026
Synthetic Aperture Radar Market Size to Worth USD 18.81 billion by 2034 - EIN Presswire

November 2025: Finnish satellite operator Iceye, specializing in SAR technology, and Japan's aerospace and defense firm IHI Corporation have recently ...

Feb 9,2026
Miami's Radio Paz becomes EWTN affiliate

Now 148 out of 175 Catholic AM/FM radio stations in the country are EWTN affiliates. EWTN Catholic radio can also be heard on Sirius Satellite Radio ...

Feb 9,2026
Starwatch: A disgraced charioteer turned goat farmer – Pottsville Republican Herald

Capella is positioned on the upper right corner of the pentagon that appears to be pointing down at the legendary constellation Orion the Hunter. So ...

Feb 9,2026
After its failure in 2021, ISRO prepares for GISAT-1A launch, the satellite to head Sriharikota soon

... (EOS-03), @isro is geared up to launch #Gisat1A (EOS-05), as its replacement. 1/n File pic of Gisat-1 | credit: Isro pic.twitter.com/PnCyuVM6io ...

Feb 9,2026
After its failure in 2021, ISRO prepares for GISAT-1A launch, the satellite to head Sriharikota soon

Engineers at the UR Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru developed the satellite. ... (EOS-03), @isro is geared up to launch #Gisat1A (EOS-05), as its ...

Feb 9,2026
HSI
SSA

Questions about Commercial Innovation Center (CIC)