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 Confirms Hit on Ammunition Depot in Occupied Crimea in Early January - Militarnyi

Satellite imagery has confirmed a strike by Unmanned Systems Forces drones on a Russian ammunition depot in temporarily occupied Crimea in early ...

Jan 14,2026
SkyFi raises $12.7M to turn satellite images into insights - Yahoo Finance

A satellite image purchased through the SkyFi platform | Image Credits:SkyFi. There are thousands of satellites orbiting the Earth, ...

Jan 14,2026
Physics Professor Gerard Fasel and Seaver Students Present Solar-Terrestrial Interactions ...

... Satellite image of the aurora borealis from the International Space Station. The Earth's magnetic field lines, Fasel explains, “act like wires” on ...

Jan 14,2026
Satellite Data Exposes a Hidden Flood Threat Endangering 236 Million People - Gizmodo

Satellite Data Exposes a Hidden Flood Threat Endangering 236 Million People. Densely populated river deltas are sinking faster than sea levels are ...

Jan 14,2026
Fact-checking Trump's claims about inflation and US economic growth - BBC News

You can also get in touch with BBC Verify if you've got a question about how we verify video posted online or work with satellite imagery. You can ...

Jan 14,2026
From GOES to GeoXO: Past Highlights to Future Horizons - YouTube

When NOAA's GOES-U satellite is launched it will be the final satellite in ... imagery may have been obtained through permission and may not be ...

Jan 14,2026
Megaflashes: The world's longest lightning discharges - Physics Today

The megaflash data shown here comes from composite GOES-16 satellite imagery. Also shown are 116 associated cloud-to-ground discharges: 83 ...

Jan 14,2026
From Permitting Reform to Clean Energy: Where Environmental Progress Is Possible in 2026

Solar and wind are being built at an unprecedented pace around the world, and technology costs continue to decline. Satellite image of the New Haven ...

Jan 14,2026
Starlink Users in Iran Get Free Internet Access, Nonprofits Say - The New York Times

Under a near-total communications blackout, users of Elon Musk's satellite service have gotten online without paying, organizations that work on ...

Jan 14,2026
Why are we fracking Ohio's only national forest? - Ohio Capital Journal

Examining areas around the towns of Scio, Cadiz, and Jewett via a satellite image with Google Maps reveals over 179 well pads in the county. These ...

Jan 14,2026
SkyFi secures $12.7M Series A to deliver actionable Insights from Satellite Imagery - FoundersToday

... satellite imagery and geospatial intelligence platform. The round was co-led by Buoyant Ventures and IronGate Capital Advisors, with additional ...

Jan 14,2026
Satellite Cloud Imaging Service Global Research Report 2026: $12.34 Bn Market Trends ...

The satellite cloud imaging service market is poised for growth due to rising small satellite deployments, demand from defense and agriculture, ...

Jan 14,2026
Satellite Cloud Imaging Service Global Research Report 2026 - GlobeNewswire

Related Links · Commercial Satellite Imaging Market Report 2026 · Remote Sensing Satellite Market Report 2026 · Satellite-Based Earth Observation Market ...

Jan 14,2026
Opinion | Iranians Deserve New Leadership - The New York Times

Likewise, I think the intelligence community could use information from intercepts from satellite feeds to help document what is unfolding in Iran and ...

Jan 14,2026
SkyFi raises $12.7M to turn satellite images into insights | TechCrunch

(One was DNV; Fischer declined to name the other on the record.) Fischer said SkyFi used to have a harder time convincing satellite imagery providers ...

Jan 14,2026
Satellite observations reveal how pollution intensifies fog across northern India - Nature

You have full access to this article via your institution. Satellite image shows thick fog over the Indo Gangetic Plain on 18 December 2025.

Jan 14,2026
11 tankers under US sanctions defy blockade in Venezuela, satellite imagery indicates

Following satellite-imagery analysis of oil tankers under U.S. sanctions spotted beyond Venezuelan waters, Dr Ollie Ballinger (UCL Centre for ...

Jan 14,2026
Beyond the eye of the storm: The impact of repeated hurricane closures on mental health

Banner photo: An satellite image of Hurricane Milton approaching the Gulf Coast of Florida. (NOAA). Sign up for The Invading Sea newsletter by ...

Jan 14,2026
An ecosystem of smuggled tech holds Iran's last link to the outside world - The Guardian

... intelligence platform. They hold Iran's last tenuous link to the ... satellite dishes, say sources. Under a law passed in 2025, possessing a ...

Jan 14,2026
Guiding the Future of Satellite Imagery for Northeast Harmful Algal Bloom Alerts - NCCOS

A new survey reveals user satisfaction with a listserv that delivers satellite imagery for detecting algal blooms while improving stakeholder ...

Jan 14,2026
Satellite Launches
Despite forecast, SpaceX launches Starlink satellites - Spectrum News 13

CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION, Fla. — Even though the weather did not look promising, SpaceX was able to launch its Starlink mission on ...

Jan 14,2026
New OroraTech thermal sensors leverage Kepler lasers to bypass downlink delays for wildfires

OroraTech announced that four of its SAFIRE Gen4 sensors were onboard on the Kepler Communications Tranche-1 satellites launched Jan. 11.

Jan 14,2026
U.S. Space Force switches rockets for upcoming GPS satellite launch - Spaceflight Now

The next Global Positioning System satellite is switching from a United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket to a SpaceX Falcon 9, a spokesperson for the ...

Jan 14,2026
Fact-checking Trump's claims about inflation and US economic growth - BBC News

You can also get in touch with BBC Verify if you've got a question about how we verify video posted online or work with satellite imagery. You can ...

Jan 14,2026
Cincinnati students build satellite bound for NASA space mission - WLWT

The University of Cincinnati is making history, as Ohio's first-ever fully student-built satellite is ready to launch into space through a partnership ...

Jan 14,2026
Satellite Cloud Imaging Service Global Research Report 2026: $12.34 Bn Market Trends ...

This growth is driven by increased satellite launches, advanced imaging technologies, and a rising demand for remote sensing data. The market is ...

Jan 14,2026
SkyFi raises $12.7M to turn satellite images into insights | TechCrunch

Saviynt — $3 billion: This identity management cybersecurity startup, launched in 2010, last raised a $700 million Series B. It has raised $740 ...

Jan 14,2026
ThinkOrbital raises seed funding to advance X-ray space inspection - SpaceNews

The X-ray detector panel will meet up with another satellite schedule to launch in October to perform X-ray imaging and material characterization ...

Jan 14,2026
Geopost Launches New Venture Street-level Imagery | Geo Week News

Geopost is an international parcel delivery network and innovation-driven logistics provider. The company operates over 65,000 vehicles every day ...

Jan 14,2026
Satellite sees snowy Greenland peaks from space photo of the day for Jan. 14, 2026

The images reveal the storm's incredible power and offer vital insights ... launches science balloon in Antarctica | Space photo of the day ...

Jan 14,2026
RTX provides Blue Canyon satellite for interstellar mission

... satellite manufacturer and mission services provider—successfully launched this week in support of NASA's Pandora mission. The mission is designed ...

Jan 14,2026
China has applied to launch 200,000 satellites, but what are they for? | New Scientist

A Chinese application to the International Telecommunications Union suggests plans for the largest satellite mega constellation ever built – but ...

Jan 14,2026
China Begins Enforcing its Ban on Shipboard Starlink - The Maritime Executive

China Begins Enforcing its Ban on Shipboard Starlink. A Starlink satellite launch (SpaceX handout image).

Jan 14,2026
First FCI rapid scan test dataset released - EUMETSAT - User Portal

... Imager (FCI) onboard the second MTG-I satellite, to be launched in July 2026. The ~24 hours of L1c data were acquired on 23-24 July 2023 from the ...

Jan 14,2026
Guiding the Future of Satellite Imagery for Northeast Harmful Algal Bloom Alerts - NCCOS

In 2025 – one year after the launch – Florida Sea Grant conducted a survey to understand recipient satisfaction rates, and how people prefer to ...

Jan 14,2026
SkyFi raises $12.7M to make satellite imagery as easy as ordering an Uber

The company launched custom-built platforms for major satellite operators, including Vantor (formerly Maxar Intelligence), ICEYE US, and Planet, ...

Jan 14,2026
Thai-made satellite fails to reach orbit after launch anomaly - Facebook

Theos two A was designed to provide high resolution satellite imagery to support disaster management, environmental monitoring, agriculture and urban ...

Jan 14,2026
European Autonomy in Space - Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik

... launch satellites into orbit are very limited. The European heavy-lift ... Satellite imagery enables secure, rapid and precise reconnaissance ...

Jan 14,2026
Eutelsat Contracts Airbus for 340 More Satellites for its OneWeb LEO Satellite Network

News · Sentinel-6 'Ocean Guardian' Satellite Slated to Launch in November 2025. by Joshua Faleti ... images. Pause animations. Orientation. Screen ...

Jan 14,2026
SkyFi raises $12.7 million amid overhead imagery boom - Axios

Black and white satellite radar image showing a detailed view of Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia,. Synthetic aperture radar satellite imagery of ...

Jan 14,2026
EO-MSI
Satellite Cloud Imaging Service Global Research Report 2026 - GlobeNewswire

Significant market acquisitions, such as Advent International and British Columbia Investment Management Corp's $6.4 billion acquisition of Maxar ...

Jan 14,2026
SkyFi Secures $12.7M Series A - Payload Space

Image: Satellogic/SkyFi. Sign up for our ... “Analytics companies, even satellite providers, have built these Ferrari ...

Jan 14,2026
SkyFi raises $12.7M to make satellite imagery as easy as ordering an Uber

The company launched custom-built platforms for major satellite operators, including Vantor (formerly Maxar Intelligence), ICEYE US, and Planet, ...

Jan 14,2026
FCC approves 7,500 additional Starlink Gen2 satellites for SpaceX - SatellitePro ME

SatellitePro ME addresses all aspects of the satellite industry ... Satellogic secures seven-figure monitoring deal · OQ Technology brings ...

Jan 14,2026
SkyFi Secures $12.7 Million Series A Funding to Advance Access to Satellite Imagery and Analytics

... satellite imagery, providing actionable insights that enable ... Maxar Intelligence, ICEYE US, and Planet to deliver on-demand access to ...

Jan 14,2026
Inside Trump's $11 billion health plan to replace "neo-colonial" USAID - Axios

The new program aims to boost U.S. influence and interests in developing nations without the NGOs delivered services through USAID.

Jan 14,2026
Satellite internet provider Starlink now offering free service inside Iran, activists say

American Legion Baseball · AP Winter Olympics · Outdoors · Arts & Entertainment · TV Listings · Videos · Church Services · Events · Local Events ...

Jan 14,2026
Satellogic (SATL) Valuation Check After New Satellite Deals And Monitoring Agreement

... Constellation and a separate seven-figure monitoring agreement. See our latest analysis for Satellogic. The recent satellite contract for Portugal ...

Jan 14,2026
Satellogic secures $30 million contract - MSN

Under the terms of the agreement, Satellogic will deliver multiband optical imagery captured by the satellite constellation. The constellation is ...

Jan 14,2026
It's big, beautiful and — blue. But this 40-year-old iceberg is about to disappear for good

A satellite view of the iceberg seen Wednesday on NASA Worldview appears to show a significant chunk of A-23a breaking off. WATCH | CBC in ...

Jan 14,2026
One satellite survives PSLV rocket failure, transmits data from space for about 3 minutes

... ISI · Lotus Takes Centre Stage As India Sets Tone For ...

Jan 14,2026
Upcoming Webinar: NASA CSDA Program Vendor Focus - Tomorrow.io

Worldview · Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) ... satellite constellation and the unique atmospheric measurements it enables.

Jan 14,2026
Intuitive Machines Completes Lanteris Space Systems Acquisition - Via Satellite

Intuitive Machines has completed the acquisition of Lanteris Space Systems, formerly known as Maxar Space Systems. By acquiring a spacecraft ...

Jan 14,2026
Xona Space Systems Orders 8 Pulsar Satellites from Aerospacelab

Imagery and Sensing Satellogic Secures 7-Figure Imagery Deal for Monitoring ... satellite platforms for their constellation,” Aerospacelab CEO ...

Jan 14,2026
SAR
Starlink satellites lift off on SpaceX Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral | Space

An Indian PSLV rocket launches the EOS-N1 military satellite and 15 other payloads on. Indian PSLV rocket apparently fails for 2nd launch in a row ...

Jan 14,2026
'KID' Is The Only Capsule To Survive Failed PSLV-C62 Launch | ISRO News | N18V

... EOS-N1 (Anvesha) were lost, KID's survival offered rare real-world data ... ISRO's PSLV Fails with SPY Satellite | Sabotage? Impact? Future ...

Jan 14,2026
Eos Energy unveils Indensity battery storage system | EOSE Stock News

... Satellite · All Stock Rankings Largest Companies by Market Cap Best ... Eos Energy Announces Indensity™: A Breakthrough in Battery Energy ...

Jan 14,2026
Liechtenstein's spectrum award to Open Cosmos propels Europe in the space ... - Satellite Evolution

The Principality of Liechtenstein has awarded its High Priority Ka-band radio spectrum filings to the space mission company, Open Cosmos, ...

Jan 14,2026
Airbus launches demonstrator to test global 5G connectivity in orbit - Satellite Evolution

ICEYE to deliver sovereign space-based intelligence ...

Jan 14,2026
SRC Awarded $24M Air Force Contract to Develop Next-Generation Embedded Computing ...

SRC Awarded $24M Air Force Contract to Develop Next-Generation Embedded Computing Capabilities. Writer: Satellite Evolution Group. Satellite Evolution ...

Jan 14,2026
Satellite Cloud Imaging Service Global Research Report 2026: $12.34 Bn Market Trends ...

The satellite cloud imaging service market is poised for growth due to rising small satellite ... EOS Data Analytics Inc.; GIS Consortium India Private ...

Jan 14,2026
Satellite Cloud Imaging Service Global Research Report 2026 - GlobeNewswire

L3Harris Technologies Inc. European Space Agency; Telespazio S.p.A.; Planet Labs PBC; BlackSky Technology Inc. EOS Data Analytics Inc. GIS Consortium ...

Jan 14,2026
Where the Tianshan Will Break Next: Strain, Slip, and Seismic Hazard - Eos.org

Chang et al. [2025] use the complete set of available GNSS (satellite-based positioning) measurement data, from 936 stations, to map how the crust ...

Jan 14,2026
India's Space Community Pours Out Its Emotions After ISRO's Back‑To‑Back PSLV Failure

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV‑C62), carrying the EOS‑N1 Earth‑observation satellite and a cluster of commercial payloads, deviated from ...

Jan 14,2026
Satellite Confirms Hit on Ammunition Depot in Occupied Crimea in Early January - Militarnyi

Satellite Confirms Hit on Ammunition Depot in Occupied Crimea in Early January ... Australian company Electro Optic Systems Holdings Limited (EOS) has ...

Jan 14,2026
RTX supplies Blue Canyon satellite as NASA Pandora mission launches to study distant ...

A Saturn-200 minisatellite developed by Blue Canyon Technologies, a small satellite manufacturer owned ... ICEYE has signed a multi-million, multi-year ...

Jan 14,2026
HII Wins Role in Missile Defense Agency's $151B SHIELD Contract Vehicle

Top view of Stockholm on a synthetic aperture radar satellite. Sweden Taps ICEYE, Planet Labs for Space Satellite Network. January 13, 2026.

Jan 14,2026
HII Wins Role in Missile Defense Agency's $151B SHIELD Contract Vehicle

Sweden Taps ICEYE, Planet Labs for Space Satellite Network. Finnish defense ...

Jan 14,2026
Open Cosmos Awarded Liechtenstein Spectrum Filings for LEO Broadband Constellation

Government/Military Swedish Armed Forces Sign Sovereign Satellite Deals with Planet and Iceye ... satellite broadband constellation for Europe ...

Jan 14,2026
SkyFi raises $12.7M to make satellite imagery as easy as ordering an Uber

The company launched custom-built platforms for major satellite operators, including Vantor (formerly Maxar Intelligence), ICEYE US, and Planet ...

Jan 14,2026
SkyFi raises $12.7 million amid overhead imagery boom - Axios

Black and white satellite radar image showing a detailed view of Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia,. Synthetic aperture radar satellite imagery of ...

Jan 14,2026
Failed third stage of PSLV-C62 rocket seems intact, not exploded - UNITED NEWS OF INDIA

... EOS-09, an Earth observation satellite with synthetic aperture radar, failed in mid-flight when its third stage was on. The satellite, meant to ...

Jan 14,2026
SkyFi raises $12.7 million to scale satellite data marketplace - SpaceNews

... satellite data marketplace SkyFi raises $12.7 million to scale satellite ... Synthetic aperture radar imagery captured by an Iceye satellite showing a ...

Jan 14,2026
SkyFi Secures $12.7 Million Series A Funding to Advance Access to Satellite Imagery and Analytics

... satellite imagery, providing actionable insights that enable ... ICEYE US, and Planet to deliver on-demand access to the most advanced ...

Jan 14,2026
SSA

Questions about Commercial Innovation Center (CIC)