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
Planet Labs wins $12.8 million NGA contract for maritime intelligence in Asia-Pacific

... commercial satellite imagery, artificial intelligence and advanced analytics. Luno is split into Luno A, focused on commercial analytic services ...

Oct 17,2025
AI-Driven Mapping Captures Daily Global Land Changes | Newswise

The team developed a framework that merges satellite imagery, near-surface cameras, and advanced AI segmentation models. This innovation addresses ...

Oct 17,2025
2025 wildfire season: air quality in review - Washington State Department of Ecology

All evacuation orders have been lifted and the U.S. Forest Service has moved fire management to local units. Satellite image of the Bear Gulch Fire.

Oct 17,2025
Maps: Where the U.S. Is Building Up Military Force in the Caribbean - The New York Times

Source: New York Times analysis of satellite imagery, U.S. Naval Institute, LatAmMilMovements, Michael Bonet and M.T. Anderson. Note: Some U.S. ship ...

Oct 17,2025
Planet Nabs $13M Award Under NGA's Luno B for Data Analytics - Via Satellite

Technology Gilat Books $42 Million in Satellite Operator Order for SkyEdge IV Platform ... The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) in ...

Oct 17,2025
Deadlier Israel-Iran war is inevitable, Israeli ex-intel official warns

Satellite imagery taken in recent months shows that Iran is continuing construction at the Natanz “Pickaxe” mountain or Mount Kolang Gaz-La ...

Oct 17,2025
6th edition of the contest for the best satellite image of Earth | Copernicus

The annual international contest 'Seize the beauty of our Planet' recognizes the most beautiful satellite images of the Earth.

Oct 17,2025
onX Partners with T-Mobile to Enhance Outdoor Adventures with Satellite Data | Morningstar

Map Markup Content (Waypoints, Tracks, Lines, Areas); GPS Tracking and Route Building; 3D Imagery (onX Backcountry). "Satellite connectivity is no ...

Oct 17,2025
Satellites Reveal America's Secret, Shrinking, And Expanding Military Bases - YouTube

Using satellite imagery and archive footage, we mapped out America's global military footprint. We explore why new bases are being built while ...

Oct 17,2025
Ukraine's Zelenskyy returns to White House to ask Trump for long-range Tomahawk missiles

... Satellite imagery shows Ukraine attack destroyed and damaged Russian bombers ... © 2025 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information ...

Oct 17,2025
Entrepreneurs inspire Kummer Vanguard Scholars: Advice from 3 innovators

... satellite imaging and compact radar systems for drones. Dan Nobbe, vice president of radio frequency and radar systems at MatrixSpace. Photo ...

Oct 17,2025
AAC Clyde Space's Sedna-1 Satellite Goes Live, Strengthening Global Maritime Data Services

The satellite is built by AAC SpaceQuest in Virginia. It has completed its commissioning phase and is already delivering maritime intelligence data to ...

Oct 17,2025
ORBITaL-Net: A labeled training library for large-scale building feature extraction - Nature

The images included in this dataset were part of MAXAR imagery collection shared with National Geospatial Intelligence ... Accelerating satellite image ...

Oct 17,2025
Tracking data shows Iran tankers hiding locations again - and how much Russian oil goes to India?

As Israel prepares to reopen the Rafah crossing into southern Gaza, we've examined a queue of aid lorries visible in satellite imagery and analysed ...

Oct 17,2025
The controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has confirmed it suspended operations in ...

Eyewitnesses say most were killed by Israeli forces. Both the GHF and the IDF denied this. Satellite imagery shows this GHF distribution site has ...

Oct 17,2025
Losses due to wildfires

... image here shows the changes caused by the fires. Thanks to the ... 2025. > > Satellite data for Germany's forests in distress. > Losses due ...

Oct 17,2025
Northern Australia mining operations impacted by 4 million lightning strikes, severe ...

Image: Satellite imagery around Laverton, WA on Wednesday, October 15, 2025. 45°C heat and Severe-to-Extreme Heatwave conditions. The horseshoe ...

Oct 17,2025
Scientists move closer to confirming existence of dark matter - Reuters

... image based on five years of data from NASA's Fermi... Purchase ... The Fermi satellite confirmed that such objects are gamma-ray sources ...

Oct 17,2025
Satellite images show how data centers are changing America's landscape

Satellite images show how data centers are changing America's landscape ... Illustrated image of Carlos' homes next to Amazon data centers.

Oct 17,2025
WTVC-TV - OUT OF THIS WORLD: The former satellite tracking facility for NASA in Rosman ...

May be an image of satellite dish. Profile photo of WTVC- ...

Oct 17,2025
Satellite Launches
Maryland's 'Goldilocks approach' to broadband is saving the state millions | StateScoop

... satellite launch (Mariana Suarez / AFP via Getty Images). Amid federal pushes away from fiber broadband, Texas kicks off satellite pilot program. By ...

Oct 17,2025
Planet Labs wins $12.8 million NGA contract for maritime intelligence in Asia-Pacific

Launch · Military · Opinion · Policy & Politics · Video & Audio Open ... satellite imagery, artificial intelligence and advanced analytics. Luno ...

Oct 17,2025
China launches 18 communication satellites - Anadolu Ajansı

Satellites launched as part of Chinese commercial low-orbit satellite constellation, aiming to form a network of satellites to provide global ...

Oct 17,2025
Viasat moves into military satellite communications - YouTube

... satellites for the U.S. military. - Scientists and advocates ... launch rate from Vandenberg Space Force Base. - Launch startup iRocket ...

Oct 17,2025
HyImpulse Secures Further Funding Ahead of Key 2026 Launches - Via Satellite

Imagery and Sensing IHI Orders Satellites from Iceye in Deal to Assemble Satellites in Japan · Finance ABS Completes Move to Dubai · Technology ...

Oct 17,2025
California rocket launch today. How to watch SpaceX livestream - The Desert Sun

The launch, a mission to deploy Starlink satellites for Elon Musk's lucrative internet business, will be livestreamed on SpaceX's website.

Oct 17,2025
Open Cosmos to Build Spanish Component of Atlantic Constellation - Via Satellite

Imagery and Sensing IHI Orders Satellites from Iceye in Deal to Assemble Satellites in Japan ... Government/Military SpaceX Launches Second Batch ...

Oct 17,2025
onX Partners with T-Mobile to Enhance Outdoor Adventures with Satellite Data

At launch, onX customers with capable devices and qualifying T-Satellite ... 3D Imagery (onX Backcountry). “Satellite connectivity is no longer ...

Oct 17,2025
Stars and satellites streak over Gemini North telescope | Space photo of the day for Oct. 17, 2025

... launch large satellite constellations to deliver global broadband internet and other services. While these networks bring important technological ...

Oct 17,2025
onX Partners with T-Mobile to Enhance Outdoor Adventures with Satellite Data | Morningstar

At launch, onX customers with capable devices and qualifying T-Satellite ... 3D Imagery (onX Backcountry). "Satellite connectivity is no longer ...

Oct 17,2025
Up Over 60% YTD, This Space ETF Is Headed to the Moon

It recently signed a two-launch contract with the Japanese ... Earth imaging satellite company Planet Labs rounding out the top three ...

Oct 17,2025
SpaceX to launch nearly 30 Starlink satellites - Spectrum News 13

SpaceX to launch nearly 30 Starlink satellites ... CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION — With not a worry in sight (at the moment), the weather is ...

Oct 17,2025
SpaceX to launch nearly 30 Starlink satellites - Spectrum Bay News 9

The Falcon 9 rocket will send up Starlink 10-17 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, stated SpaceX. The launch ...

Oct 17,2025
Space Force Contract to Inform Commercial Weather Strategy

The work builds on Muon's plan to field a constellation of wildfire and environmental monitoring satellites called FireSat. The firm launched the ...

Oct 17,2025
Satellite images show how data centers are changing America's landscape

Build, baby, build. Thats the mantra behind the AI boom sweeping America. | Business Insider Africa.

Oct 17,2025
Russia signals readiness for peace talks, but simultaneously expands key airbase to launch ...

Russia signals readiness for peace talks, but simultaneously expands key airbase to launch more missiles on Ukraine, satellite images show.

Oct 17,2025
US military greenlights up to 100 SpaceX launches per year from California | Space

Because Earth rotates in a west-to-east direction, satellites that circle it from north to south eventually see almost all of the planet's surface.

Oct 17,2025
Pakistan's First Hyperspectral Satellite in Orbit | SUPARCO Director A.K.M. Shafaat Ali Speaks

... imaging | Pakistan science progress | Satellite launch 2025 | Pakistan ... SatelliteLaunch Pakistan space program | SUPARCO satellite launch ...

Oct 17,2025
A classified network of SpaceX satellites is emitting a mysterious signal | WUSF

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in March of this year, carrying multiple Starshield satellites into orbit. A ...

Oct 17,2025
China launches internet satellites on 600th mission of Long March rocket (video) - Space

... launch site on Oct. 15, 2025 in Wenchang, Hainan Province of China. (Image credit: Luo Yunfei/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images). The first ...

Oct 17,2025
EO-MSI
NDSS 2025 - Workshop On The Security Of Space And Satellite Systems (SpaceSec) 2025, Panel

Panelists: Ashok Prjapathi (NASA), Martin Strohmeier (Armasuisse), Stephen Schwab (USC ISI), Dan Wallach (DARPA): Our thanks to the Network and ...

Oct 17,2025
Planet Nabs $13M Award Under NGA's Luno B for Data Analytics - Via Satellite

Planet will leverage imagery from its PlanetScope constellation of electro-optical satellites and SynMax's Theia product analytics for “AI-enabled ...

Oct 17,2025
AI Unlocks Real-Time Global Land Cover Mapping with Fusion of Satellite, Ground Cameras

Companies deeply entrenched in processing and analyzing satellite and aerial imagery, such as Planet Labs (NYSE: PL) and Maxar Technologies (NYSE: ...

Oct 17,2025
New Mexico PBS Brings ATSC 3.0 Multilingual Service To Viewers With HVS, Ateme, LingoPal

Ateme logo with a satellite dish and marketing copy KT Skylife Taps ... Neo Partners with AI-Media on Captioning and Voice Translation · Ateme ...

Oct 17,2025
Satellite images show how data centers are changing America's landscape

Satellite images show part of Stanton Springs, Georgia in 2017 and 2023. Maxar/Business Insider. These data centers in Stanton Springs, Georgia ...

Oct 17,2025
Satellogic offsets cash burn with US$90m sale - IFR

The satellite imaging company's shares closed Thursday's session at US$2.98, so a difficult outcome in what was a difficult tape – Planet Labs, a much ...

Oct 17,2025
Vantor's response: Chinese satellite photographed the ISS - Universe Space Tech

Worldview Legion 2 imaging satellite. The image was taken by the Chinese satellite Jilin-1. Source: Chang Guang. Now Chang Guang has published a ...

Oct 17,2025
Assad-era plot to hide dead bodies turned Syria desert into mass grave - Reuters

The trenches at Qutayfah were wider and deeper, but the Dhumair site had a greater number of trenches overall. Source: Satellite images from WorldView ...

Oct 17,2025
Planet secures NGA Luno B contract for AI maritime surveillance - Space War News

The collaboration integrates Planet's global, near-daily PlanetScope satellite ... "In leveraging our PlanetScope constellation, which provides ...

Oct 17,2025
Satellite Manufacturing Market Size Expected to Reach $27.3 Billion by 2031

... satellite in a satellite communication system accelerate the growth of the satellite manufacturing market. ... Maxar Technologies, Mitsubishi Electric ...

Oct 17,2025
United States Remote Sensing Market with CAGR of 15.2% during - openPR.com

✓ In October 2025, Maxar Technologies launched a new high-resolution Earth observation satellite, providing enhanced imaging capabilities for ...

Oct 17,2025
Re-imagining Neo-Pragmatic Lifestyle: EPWK Launches Strategic Upgrade with "EPWK ...

Concurrently, a consumption tendency that prioritizes emotional value and aesthetic expression—known as "Neo ... satellite imagery, real-time navigation ...

Oct 17,2025
WATCH: nubia Neo 3 GT Review - YugaTech

The nubia Neo 3GT 5G is here, bringing gamer-focused features like shoulder triggers, LED lighting, and a fast 120Hz AMOLED display, ...

Oct 17,2025
NISAR satellite in space photographed by Vantor - The New Indian Express

... Maxar Technologies, the company that provides AI- powered spatial intelligence. It captured an image of NISAR after the world's largest antenna in ...

Oct 17,2025
Democratized Intelligence: How Open-Source Intelligence is Reshaping Asymmetric Advantage

Once the exclusive means of states with space programs, companies like Maxar, Planet, and BlackSky provide sub-meter resolution imagery capable of ...

Oct 17,2025
Satellogic (SATL) Is Down 27.8% After $90M Equity Raise and NextGen Satellite Launch

Satellogic Inc. has completed a US$90 million follow-on equity offering ... satellite platform. This milestone platform leverages AI-enabled ...

Oct 17,2025
T-Mobile's Satellite Service Proves Popular with Rival Carrier Customers - TmoNews

Tags: AT&T, Ookla, Satellite Connectivity, Starlink, T-Satellite, Verizon Wireless ... BLU Neo 4.5, BLU Studio 5.0, BLU Studio 5.0 C, BLU Studio 5.0 II ...

Oct 17,2025
Carnoustie shines among nation's war memorials in Legion Scotland awards - The Courier

... Angus Council gardener Robbie Gibson, Carnoustie Legion chairman Davie Paton ...

Oct 17,2025
Gilat Satellite Networks' $42 million order for SkyEdge IV platform from an unnamed ... - SatNews

An unnamed satellite operator has established a $42 million contract with Gilat Satellite ... Aechelon + partners Niantic Spatial, ICEYE, BlackSky and ...

Oct 17,2025
Planet Awarded Luno B Contract by National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) for AI ...

"In leveraging our PlanetScope constellation, which provides unparalleled broad area coverage of high interest ocean areas with near-daily revisit ...

Oct 17,2025
SAR
HyImpulse Secures Further Funding Ahead of Key 2026 Launches - Via Satellite

Imagery and Sensing IHI Orders Satellites from Iceye in Deal to Assemble Satellites in Japan ... Technology Gilat Books $42 Million in Satellite ...

Oct 17,2025
Open Cosmos to Build Spanish Component of Atlantic Constellation - Via Satellite

The UK Space Agency previously contracted Open Cosmos to build a U.K. pathfinder satellite for the constellation, and Iceye is building a satellite ...

Oct 17,2025
Rebels At*ack Indian Army in Assam | Indian Big Failure Updates | Breaking News

... EOS-03 | GSLV-F10 | satellite failure | cryogenic upper stage | mission anomaly | Sriharikota launch | Earth observation satellite | technical ...

Oct 17,2025
Satellite company will collaborate with ESA to connect with IoT devices, usher in 6G

... satellite navigation systems (GNSS) such as the U.S.-operated GPS. ... Unmanned. Image courtesy EOS Defense Systems USA. News. Counter-UAS system ...

Oct 17,2025
An aquifer in Arizona is losing water at alarming rates. What will the state do? - AZCentral

The meeting began with opening remarks from La Paz County Supervisor Holly Irwin, who has advocated for groundwater protection in the area for a ...

Oct 17,2025
Raiders of the Lost Parts: Jeff Thornburg's Playbook for Space, Part I - 3DPrint.com

Then Amazon called, recruiting him to lead engineering and manufacturing for its Kuiper satellite program. ... EOS Zone · The 3D Systems Zone · The ...

Oct 17,2025
Space42 signs autonomous mobility deals with e& UAE and A2Z - Developing Telecoms

Satellite Networks · Space42 and ICEYE launch second Foresight SAR satellite · Satellite Networks.

Oct 17,2025
ICEYE, IHI sign agreement to build Earth observation satellites - Evertiq

Finnish satellite company ICEYE and Japan's IHI Corporation have signed ... satellite constellation for security, civilian and commercial use.

Oct 17,2025
Network Systems Engineer - ICEYE - Jobs By Workable

Who are we? ICEYE is the global leader in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite operations for Earth Observation, persistent monitoring, and ...

Oct 17,2025
Trade Tensions Send Japan's Nikkei Sliding While Nintendo Bets Big - Finimize

Still, major players pressed on with business as usual: ICEYE and IHI signed on to build a 24‑satellite Earth observation network, starting with four ...

Oct 17,2025
Gilat Satellite Networks' $42 million order for SkyEdge IV platform from an unnamed ... - SatNews

An unnamed satellite operator has established a $42 million contract with Gilat Satellite ... Aechelon + partners Niantic Spatial, ICEYE, BlackSky and ...

Oct 17,2025
AST SpaceMobile BlueBird Reaches India To Be Orbited by LVM3 Rocket - Orbital Today

ICEYE and IHI to Build Joint Earth Observation Constellation. Space 17 October 2025. ICEYE and IHI to Build Joint Earth Observation Constellation.

Oct 17,2025
IHI Orders Four Satellites From ICEYE to Build Japan's Earth Observation Constellation

ICEYE,a Finnish Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite operator, has signed a procurement contract with IHI (TYO:7013) to build an Earth ...

Oct 17,2025
Illumina constellation mapped read technology uncovers hard-to-see genomic insights in ...

BITF Bitfarms Ltd. 5.28 -1.19 (-18.39%) · EOSE Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc. 15.45 -2.83 (-15.48%) · USAR USA Rare Earth, Inc. 28.54 -5.14 (-15.26%).

Oct 17,2025
Constellation Energy (CEG): A Must-Buy Dividend Stock Leading the Carbon-Free Revolution

Constellation Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:CEG) is included among the ... EOSE Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc. 15.45 -2.83 (-15.48%) · USAR USA Rare ...

Oct 17,2025
IHI Orders Four Satellites From ICEYE to Build Japan's Earth Observation Constellation

ICEYE,a Finnish Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite operator, has signed a procurement contract with IHI (TYO:7013) to build an Earth ...

Oct 17,2025
IHI has signed a contract with ICEYE to procure SAR satellites.

... (ICEYE) to procure SAR satellites for the construction of an Earth observation satellite constellation aimed at security, public, and commercial use.

Oct 17,2025
IHI Orders Four Satellites From ICEYE to Build Japan's Earth Observation Constellation

ICEYE, a Finnish Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite operator, has signed a procurement contract with IHI to build an Earth observation satellite ...

Oct 17,2025
ICEYE and IHI to Build Joint Earth Observation Constellation - Orbital Today

Finnish radar imaging firm ICEYE has signed an agreement with Japan's IHI Corporation to develop a new constellation of synthetic aperture radar ...

Oct 17,2025
Researchers find much Mexican satellite data is unencrypted and easily hacked - Mexico News Daily

satellite The UC San Diego and University of Maryland researchers ... Paz in Hermosillo dig a · Authorities confirm discovery of 60 bodies at ...

Oct 17,2025
SSA

Questions about Commercial Innovation Center (CIC)