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
Satellite imagery shows a massive crack forming in frozen Lake Erie. M... - TikTok

1493 Likes, 48 Comments. TikTok video from nbcnews (@nbcnews): “Satellite imagery shows a massive crack forming in frozen Lake Erie.

Feb 10,2026
FOX - Satellite imagery revealed a massive crack ripping across frozen Lake Erie as ice ...

Satellite imagery revealed a massive crack ripping across frozen Lake Erie as ice levels surge. More Below.

Feb 10,2026
Satellite imagery captures 'massive crack' forming across frozen Lake Erie

Satellite imagery shows a “massive crack” forming across the frozen surface of Lake Erie. (Credit: CSU/CIRA & NOAA via Storyful)

Feb 10,2026
New satellite imagery shows how Iran has worked to repair its air bases after they were ... - LinkedIn

New satellite imagery shows how Iran has worked to repair its air bases after they were damaged by Israeli strikes last year. You can check out ...

Feb 10,2026
Satellite captures 80-mile-long crack on ice covering Lake Erie - The Detroit News

The agency captured the crack forming on satellite imagery on Sunday, a reminder that even when the lakes appear to be nearly entirely ice-covered ...

Feb 10,2026
Satellite imagery shows ice crack form in Lake Erie - NBC News

Satellite imagery shows ice crack form in Lake ErieFeb. 9, 2026. Read More. Get more news on. UP NEXT. Israeli president met with protests in ...

Feb 10,2026
Former prison nurse charged with taking inmates' prescription drugs - KOMO News

Analysts caution that satellite imagery is limited to above-ground activity, leaving open questions about whether sensitive work is continuing below ...

Feb 10,2026
Timelapse satellite imagery captured between November 2025 and February 2026 ... - Facebook

Timelapse satellite imagery captured between November 2025 and February 2026 shows the former largest iceberg in the world, A23a, continuing to ...

Feb 10,2026
High resolution satellite imagery taken yesterday shows the extent to which Iran has covered ...

NEW: High resolution satellite imagery taken yesterday shows the extent to which Iran has covered the tunnel entrances at the Esfahan nuclear ...

Feb 10,2026
Satellite imagery shows a massive ice crack forming on Lake Erie - YouTube

Satellite imagery shows a massive ice crack forming on Lake Erie. 1.6K views · 2 hours ago. #lakeerie #winter #satelliteimagery ...more ...

Feb 10,2026
Best Navigation Apps For 2026 - Paddling Magazine

Satellite imagery is also available to get real-world impressions of the lay of the land and water features, among other base map layers. With the ...

Feb 10,2026
AI isn't likely to wipe out all farming jobs – but it is changing who bears the risks

Most current uses of AI support monitoring and optimisation: detecting crop stress from satellite imagery, predicting irrigation needs, tracking ...

Feb 10,2026
How AI and machine learning can predict and explain social risks for more effective ...

... satellite imagery of built structures to produce appropriate data for ingestion into our models. Figure 1: Social science-informed factors ...

Feb 10,2026
A Winter Storm Warning for Hawaii — CIMSS Satellite Blog, CIMSS

... satellite. However, this particular case exhibits some of the challenge of using satellite-based observations of temperature. The following image ...

Feb 10,2026
Imagery Update: All Entrances to Esfahan Tunnel Complex are Now Completely Buried

High resolution satellite imagery taken yesterday shows the extent to which Iran has covered the tunnel entrances at the Esfahan nuclear complex ...

Feb 10,2026
Iran to Unveil First SAR Satellite: 24/7 All-Weather Radar Imaging - YouTube

Iran is set to unveil "Rad-1," its first homegrown Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imaging satellite. Unlike traditional optical satellites that ...

Feb 10,2026
From Smugglers to Supply Chains: How Yemen's Houthi Movement Became a Global Threat

... satellite imagery and ship automatic identification systems (AIS). Its analysis builds on a database, created by the research team from public and ...

Feb 10,2026
Revitalizing Integrated Tactical Units to Combat West Africa's Irregular Militant Groups

Even when units receive warnings or external intelligence—such as satellite imagery indicating insurgents' movements—forces frequently lack the ...

Feb 10,2026
How Centralized Geospatial Data Access Is Transforming 3D City Modeling

The platform consolidates access to leading satellite, aerial, elevation, and lidar data providers into a single environment. For PLW Modelworks, this ...

Feb 10,2026
New PACE Imagery Services in ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World | NASA Earthdata

Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition (CSDA) Program · Earth Science Data Systems Geographic Information Systems Team (EGIST) · Competitive Programs.

Feb 10,2026
Satellite Launches
China rolls out BeiDou-based short messaging service for emergencies - GPS World

China has launched a short messaging service leveraging BeiDou (BDS) to provide reliable communication during emergencies when ground-based ...

Feb 10,2026
Space Force buys second Otter spacecraft to power satellites on orbit - Breaking Defense

APFIT, launched in 2022 by the Office of Research and Engineering, provides “procurement funding for innovative projects that have completed ...

Feb 10,2026
Fact Check Team: Is Iran rebuilding their nuclear sites? - The National Desk

At the time, those strikes were described as a significant blow to Tehran's nuclear infrastructure. But new satellite imagery suggests the story didn' ...

Feb 10,2026
Satellite Megaconstellations Could Threaten Up to 96 Percent of Space Telescope Images

Learn how expanding satellite megaconstellations in low Earth orbit could introduce widespread light pollution into space telescope observations.

Feb 10,2026
H200: A Perspective on Export Control Failures - CEPA

Until 1997, the US allowed China to launch American-made satellites. The ... imagery satellites themselves. US export rules and risk-averse ...

Feb 10,2026
US urges American ships to stay 'as far as possible' from Iranian waters - Al Jazeera

What do satellite images of Fordow show? How Trump rejoined 'team ... More recently, Yemen's Houthi group launched attacks against Israel ...

Feb 10,2026
China builds new air-defence site near India border, satellite images reveal - MSN

Satellite imagery shows a new Chinese air-defence complex taking ... launch positions, believed to be equipped with retractable roofs for ...

Feb 10,2026
Momentus to Demonstrate Multispectral Sensor for Space Force, With NASA Support

Multispectral Sensors for Enhanced Situational Awareness · NASA Support and the R5-S10 CubeSat Imager · WiFi-Based Inter-Satellite Link Demonstrations.

Feb 10,2026
West Africa: Sahel - the Quest for Military Satellite Surveillance - allAfrica.com

... satellite imagery. These tools--precious in the fight against terrorism ... African countries that have launched satellites: South Africa ...

Feb 10,2026
Momentus to Demonstrate Multispectral Sensor for Space Force, With NASA Support, in March

R5-S10 will serve as a free-flying imager for Vigoride 7, monitoring the spacecraft's health and performance. ... satellite servicing and space ...

Feb 10,2026
The Founder of Rocket Lab on Competing with Billionaires to Lead in Space

Rocket Lab launches more rockets at a faster pace than any rival and is expanding into satellites and deep-space missions.

Feb 10,2026
Drone Mini-Submarine That Attaches Itself To Other Vessels Unveiled By Lockheed

Lamprey can launch aerial drones, launch decoys ... Aftermath Of Ukraine's Underwater Drone Attack On Russian Submarine Seen In Satellite Imagery.

Feb 10,2026
Iran to unveil its first radar satellite soon - Tehran Times

The agency's chief further said the Raad 2 satellite, with an imaging ... launch vehicle. Precise corrective measures were taken to resolve this ...

Feb 10,2026
China's Advanced GPS Alternative Isn't Just For Navigation - BGR

illustration of GNSS constellation Oselote/Getty Images ... The first BeiDou satellites launched in 2000, and by 2020, it had achieved global coverage.

Feb 10,2026
How drones filled Jamaica's data gap after Hurricane Melissa - Zag Daily

... launched a large-scale humanitarian mapping activation combining satellite imagery, community reporting and drone-based data collection. “We work ...

Feb 10,2026
NASA, SpaceX reschedules Crew-12 launch for Feb 12 - CW39 Houston

... launch and docking activities ... Eagle Ford Shale oil tanks face flood disaster risk … Blake Muir studies satellite imagery of oil wells on his ranch ...

Feb 10,2026
Geely Launches 11 More Satellites—Still 7,969 Behind Tesla - MSN

Geely Holding Group has launched 11 additional satellites through its subsidiary GeeSpace in Rizhao, Shandong Province, increasing the Future ...

Feb 10,2026
Satellite Imagery Captures 'Massive Crack' Forming Across Frozen Lake Erie - Yahoo

TrumpRx launches. Storyful. Satellite Imagery Captures 'Massive Crack' Forming Across Frozen Lake Erie. Storyful. Mon, February 9, 2026 at 7 ...

Feb 10,2026
Can current space law handle the new space age?

A daytime time lapse exposure of a rocket launch lifting off into partially cloudy sky. SpaceX resumes Falcon 9 flights with Starlink satellite launch ...

Feb 10,2026
Thousands of satellites are dying above our heads - Earth.com

That adds up to thousands of controlled and uncontrolled reentries every year – and they would continue even if launches stopped tomorrow. When ...

Feb 10,2026
EO-MSI
Eyes in the Sky, Algorithms on the Ground: How AI-Powered Satellites Are Rewriting the ...

The approach leverages the explosion in commercial satellite imagery from companies like Planet Labs, Maxar Technologies, and Airbus Defence and ...

Feb 10,2026
A Jaw-Dropping Space View of Italy Hosting the Winter Olympics - SciTechDaily

... WorldView-3 satellite. The Stadium hosted the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics, also known as the Milano Cortina Games, which are ...

Feb 10,2026
NEO PAY and CredibleX partner to empower SMEs with seamless financing access in the UAE

1. Abu Dhabi Fund for Development announces satellite launch in collaboration with Orbitworks. 2. QCDC and QFBA forge strategic collaboration ...

Feb 10,2026
Rays Have One Major Question Looming Heading Into Spring Training

| Satellite image ©2024 Maxar Technologies / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images. The Rays are set to return to Tropicana Field for the 2026 season ...

Feb 10,2026
West Africa: Sahel - the Quest for Military Satellite Surveillance - allAfrica.com

... satellite militaire, applications stratégiques satellite ... ISI : Renseignement militaire : le Niger met fin à sa coopération avec la Russie.

Feb 10,2026
NEO PAY and CredibleX Alliance Brings POS-Driven Financing to Small Businesses

This alliance marks another major milestone in NEO PAY's mission to unlock embedded financing for SMEs in the country.

Feb 10,2026
Ka, K, and Ku Band Small Satellite Market Set to Reach $13.59 Billion by 2030

Maxar Technologies (US). Ka, K, and Ku Band Small Satellite Market Segmentation: Based on mass, the mini satellite (101-1200 KG) segment is ...

Feb 10,2026
Japan Builds Comms Satellite That Can Focus Signals Where Forces Need Them

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

Feb 10,2026
Globe Telecom Seals Agreement with Starlink to Launch… - AAP News

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

Feb 10,2026
KSA Satellite Communications Research Report 2025-2031: Market Trends and Insights ...

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) has been pivotal, channeling capital into entities like Neo Space Group, which has become a leading player in the ...

Feb 10,2026
Space Cybersecurity Leaders Convene in Singapore to Address Escalating Threats in ...

“Cyber Threats Along the Lifecycle of a Satellite” by HelvetiSpace, which dove into the threats faced by satellites at each stage of their ...

Feb 10,2026
Japan Builds Comms Satellite That Can Focus Signals Where Forces Need Them

... satellite. The satellite will feature a digital ... BlackSky Secures New International Defense Contracts for ISR Satellite Subscription.

Feb 10,2026
UAE Says Welcomes US-Backed Peace Plan for Sudan - The Defense Post

Gen-3 satellite · BlackSky Secures New International Defense Contracts for ISR Satellite Subscription. February 6, 2026. Militaryia. Trends Shaping ...

Feb 10,2026
Episode III: The Judas Algorithm: Rise of the Neo-Feudal Techno Kings - Substack

neo-feudalism. Decades of widening inequality and mounting crises had ... In one striking episode, Enron Tusk unilaterally shut off satellite ...

Feb 10,2026
___ dove constellation near cans major Crossword Clue - Wordplays.com

SOLE. ___ dove, bird in the pigeon family, rare in the UK until the mid-20th century (8). COLLARED. ___ doves are the most colourful.

Feb 10,2026
SAR
Beyond ISRO: India's Space Sector Hits A $44 Billion Turning Point - The Core Report

The rocket was carrying the Anvesha (EOS-N1) spy satellite, a ... satellite constellation. According to ISpA's Bhatt, these are signs of ...

Feb 10,2026
Electro Optic Systems responds to Grizzly Research report - The Australian

EOS history and contracts. Founded in 1983 through a privatisation of a part of government's satellite tracking program, EOS expanded into the defence ...

Feb 10,2026
How ISRO's Satellite Data Is Helping Manage Global Disasters | WION Podcast - YouTube

In this episode, we explore how ISRO is using its advanced satellite technology to support global disaster management efforts ... C62 /-EOS-N1. Gareeb ...

Feb 10,2026
China rolls out BeiDou-based short messaging service for emergencies - GPS World

It marks a significant step toward bringing satellite communication ... Eos MDM Configurator designed to streamline deployments · Logo: Rx ...

Feb 10,2026
Japan Builds Comms Satellite That Can Focus Signals Where Forces Need Them

... satellite. The satellite will feature a digital communications ... EOS Unveils Laser Weapons Plant in Singapore · Niagara College Opens New ...

Feb 10,2026
Heavenly G pattern becomes visible in the winter night sky tonight - PRIMETIMER

... Capella, Aldebaran, Rigel and Betelgeuse. ... The Pleiades star cluster, together with the Taurus constellation and the Orion constellation ...

Feb 10,2026
SpaceTech Sector Newsletter - January 2026 | Company Announcement - Investegate

ICEYE secured contracts with Ukraine's Ministry of Defence and ... The 12-satellite constellation will carry optical, multispectral SAR ...

Feb 10,2026
Explained: How ISRO's GISAT-1A Will Transform Real-Time Earth Observation for India

Learn more about the ISRO GISAT-1A Satellite as ISRO is gearing up to launch the GISAT-1A satellite (EOS-05). Scheduled for late Feb–Mar 2026.

Feb 10,2026
Gov, industry players assess Europe's Iris2 constellation status: Initial version in 2029, full ...

Satellite · Launch · Login · Subscribe. Space Intel Report · Satellite ... Iceye: No IPO for now; $300M+ in 2025... January 29, 2026. Categories.

Feb 10,2026
Germany Prepares for Orbital Conflict With Lasers, Spy Satellites and €35bn War Chest

Germany plans lasers, jamming systems and a 100-plus satellite constellation as Berlin pours €35bn into military space deterrence.

Feb 10,2026
POLSARIS is the name of Poland's first military radar satellite constellation. The Geospatial ...

... satellite launches. View organization page for ICEYE Polska · ICEYE Polska. 6,159 followers. 2d. POLSARIS - tak nazywać się będzie pierwsza polska ...

Feb 10,2026
ISRO is gearing up to launch GISAT-1A (EOS-05) aboard GSLV-F17, boosting India's near ...

Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-F10 (GSLV- F10) will launch Earth Observation Satellite, EOS-03 from the Second Launch Pad of Satish Dhawan ...

Feb 10,2026
AXA Digital Commercial Platform Strikes A Deal With ICEYE - Orbital Today

... ICEYE. This deal will give the insurer access to ICEYE's constellation of SAR satellites, which is the largest in the world. How Will Having ...

Feb 10,2026
SSA

Questions about Commercial Innovation Center (CIC)