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
Odisha Govt Uses Satellite Imagery Of Plots To Ensure Transparency In Paddy Procurement

During the ongoing Kharif season, suspected non-cultivated paddy plots were identified through satellite imagery and thoroughly verified in a ...

Jan 2,2026
Florida to trial wireless EV charging highway - EV Infrastructure News

a satellite image of the section of Florida where the road will be built, marked. Construction will begin this year and is estimated to be ...

Jan 2,2026
Mississippi River Delta, Louisiana | NASA Earthdata

This satellite image was captured on December 18, 2025, by the C-SAR instrument aboard ESA's Sentinel-1A platform.

Jan 2,2026
Odisha Govt Adopts Satellite Imagery of Plots for Transparency in Paddy Procurement

Explore the significance of Odisha satellite imagery paddy procurement in identifying genuine cultivation versus non-cultivated plots.

Jan 2,2026
Odisha Govt Adopts Satellite Imagery Of Plots For Transparency In Paddy Procurement

Bhubaneswar: With the ongoing Kharif season, Odisha Government has ensured that suspected non-cultivated paddy plots identified through Satellite ...

Jan 2,2026
Astronomers detect rare 'free floating' exoplanet 10,000 light-years from Earth | Space

... satellite. (Image credit: J. Skowron / OGLE). "Our discovery offers further evidence that the galaxy may be teeming with rogue planets," study co ...

Jan 2,2026
BlackSky Technology (BKSY) Launches Third Gen-3 Satellite for Real-Time, AI ... - Yahoo Finance

BlackSky Technology (BKSY) Launches Third Gen-3 Satellite for Real-Time, AI-Powered Geospatial Intelligence ... geospatial intelligence, imagery, and ...

Jan 2,2026
Historic satellite imagery of SDSC-SHAR. : r/ISRO - Reddit

Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India Date : October 9, 1965 Satellite : KH-4A Resolution : 2.8m/pixel Image ID : DS1025-1055DA13…

Jan 2,2026
BlackSky Technology (BKSY) Launches Third Gen-3 Satellite for Real-Time, AI-Powered ...

(NYSE:BKSY) showed off its Gen-3 satellite capabilities at the Dubai Airshow by collecting a high-resolution image of a formation of L-15 planes ...

Jan 2,2026
Satellite Images Highlight Scale of Deadly Fire at Swiss Ski Resort Bar - YouTube

urgent questions. This video uses satellite imagery to map the site of the tragedy and explain what happened as emergency crews responded to the ...

Jan 2,2026
Pak Pushes Disinformation Again To Revive Debunked Claims On Op Sindoor - NDTV

During the actual hostilities in May, Pakistan failed to produce any credible satellite imagery or independently verifiable evidence to substantiate ...

Jan 2,2026
Off-Beat Careers That Are the Future Of Data | Towards Data Science

GIS analysts embedded in archaeology or heritage teams; Remote sensing specialists working with LiDAR and satellite imagery; Research data scientists ...

Jan 2,2026
Satellite Image Edge Detection Python for Aerospace & Satellite Data Processing https://t.co ...

Python Coding (@clcoding). 68 likes. Satellite Image Edge Detection Python for Aerospace & Satellite Data Processing https://t.co/OmSdPEuZih.

Jan 2,2026
Pakistan uses dis information to revive May 2025 conflict claims - WION

Independent examination of the images, including side-by-side comparison with current and historical open-source satellite data, shows no visible ...

Jan 2,2026
Pakistans Fake Amritsar Strikes Exposed: Satellite Imagery Debunks Operation Sindoor ...

Independent satellite verification debunks Pakistans claims of strikes on Indian military facilities in Punjab. See why the Operation Sindoor ...

Jan 2,2026
Morning Headlines - Friday, Jan. 2, 2026 | Recent News | DrydenWire.com

... intelligence to map the growth of America's datacenters. The team pores over satellite imagery, building permits, and other local legal documents ...

Jan 2,2026
Satellite imagery is revealing where America's AI infrastructure is really being built. https://bit.ly ...

Satellite imagery is revealing where America's AI infrastructure is really being built. https://bit.ly/49zUE8y.

Jan 2,2026
Why Pakistan Is Repairing Airbases As The New Year Begins: Satellite Proof Reveals All

... satellite imagery shows damaged hangars, patched runways and command facilities under cover. Several bases remain degraded, with fuel depots ...

Jan 2,2026
Hurricanes punched 2 holes in Gulf Coast beaches. 1 may stay, 1 may go

“I always have problems with that.” A satellite image taken in May ...

Jan 2,2026
Conservation's hot topics of 2026: From artificial intelligence to mirror molecules | The Invading Sea

What's up with the Southern Ocean? For decades, surface waters were becoming less saline. But about a decade ago, satellite imaging began to show an ...

Jan 2,2026
Satellite Launches
Investing in Speed, Agility, and Responsive Space Infrastructure – Company Announcement

Starfighters generates revenue through multiple channels beyond satellite launches. ... Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand adds critical imaging ...

Jan 2,2026
SpaceX Sees Big Drop in Number of Starlink Satellite De-Orbits in 2025 | PCMag

... Images). The number of ... In his own annual “space activities” report, McDowell also noted that SpaceX has launched 10,801 Starlink satellites.

Jan 2,2026
SpaceX gets ready for Florida's first launch of 2026 - Spectrum News 13

About the mission. SpaceX owns the Starlink company, which will see its 29 satellites go to low-Earth orbit. Once deployed and in their orbit with the ...

Jan 2,2026
Pakistan uses dis information to revive May 2025 conflict claims - WION

India launched Operation Sindoor in response to a 22 April terrorist ... satellite imagery or other supporting evidence. The images now in ...

Jan 2,2026
The Top Ten Stories of 2025 - High North News

In April, new satellite images revealed the progress Novatek made at the Arctic LNG 2 project. ... In august, a Chinese shipping company set to launch ...

Jan 2,2026
Radio Svoboda Identifies Russian Commander of Oreshnik Missile Unit in Belarus

... satellite imagery and OSINT analysis that identified construction activity and launch-site preparations. Support our frontline reporters. Logo.

Jan 2,2026
BlackSky Technology (BKSY) Launches Third Gen-3 Satellite for Real-Time, AI ... - Yahoo Finance

... launches, with the company noting that although its first Gen-3 ... imagery, both of the subsequent units delivered imagery in just twelve hours.

Jan 2,2026
BlackSky Technology (BKSY) Launches Third Gen-3 Satellite for Real-Time, AI-Powered ...

(NYSE:BKSY) offers a range of products and services related to geospatial intelligence, imagery, and data analytics, as well as mission systems. While ...

Jan 2,2026
Denmark's First Mission to the Moon Gets ESA Greenlight - European Spaceflight

The European Space Agency has selected to proceed with a Danish-led satellite mission as one of a number of small, relatively inexpensive missions ...

Jan 2,2026
Satellite images claiming strikes on military infra in Punjab during Operation Sindoor misleading

India launched Operation Sindoor last year on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, and engaged in a four-day military conflict with ...

Jan 2,2026
India rejects Pakistan's claims of striking Military Facilities in Punjab during Operation Sindoor

Sources in the Indian Army said that Pakistan is circulating misleading and unverified satellite images, falsely claiming strikes on Indian military ...

Jan 2,2026
2000-2025 in images: 25 events that changed the course of history - Forbes India

... Launch of Facebook and the subsequent rise of social mediaOn February 4 ... satellite communications (satcom) as well as 6G technologies to ...

Jan 2,2026
SpaceX plans 1st California rocket launch of 2026. Here's where to see it - Ventura County Star

The Falcon 9 rocket will launch an Earth-observing satellite for the Italian Space Agency from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The launch was postponed ...

Jan 2,2026
Plunge in Iran's currency sparks strikes and protests: Press review | Middle East Eye

Iranian officials say the satellites will be used for imaging ... Explaining why Iran used Russia to launch three satellites at the same ...

Jan 2,2026
SpaceX will move more than 4400 satellites to a lower orbit after China cited safety risk

Internet satellites in low Earth orbit are often launched to altitudes of around 500km to 1,200km. The International Space Station orbits at an ...

Jan 2,2026
Starlink to lower satellite orbit to enhance safety - Daily Dispatch

... satellites orbiting at around 550km to 480km ... imagery. SpaceX, known for its rocket launch business, has become the world's largest satellite ...

Jan 2,2026
Moon landings, asteroid missions and new telescopes: Here are the top ... - Space

Rocket Lab plans the first launch of its Neutron rocket in mid-2026, marking a major expansion of the company beyond small-satellite launches.

Jan 2,2026
Europe Satellite Data Services Market Size, Share, 2033

Latency in converting satellite imagery into real-time actionable intelligence ... Furthermore, the EU Forest Observatory, launched in 2023 ...

Jan 2,2026
SpaceX Moves Thousands of Starlink Satellites in Orbit After Near Miss - Business Insider

Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images. Jan 2, 2026 ... launches by other satellite operators," he said. SpaceX · Starlink · Space ...

Jan 2,2026
Starlink plans to lower satellite orbit to enhance safety in 2026 - ET Telecom

... satellite internet giant. Reuters. Published On Jan 2, 2026 at 08 ... imagery. SpaceX, long known for its rocket launch business, has become ...

Jan 2,2026
EO-MSI
Mississippi River Delta, Louisiana | NASA Earthdata

This satellite image was captured on December 18, 2025, by the C-SAR ... Visit Worldview to visualize near real-time imagery and historical ...

Jan 2,2026
BlackSky Technology (BKSY) Launches Third Gen-3 Satellite for Real-Time, AI ... - Yahoo Finance

BlackSky Technology Inc. (NYSE:BKSY) ranks among the best AI stocks to buy according to analysts. On December 17, BlackSky Technology Inc.

Jan 2,2026
BlackSky Technology (BKSY) Launches Third Gen-3 Satellite for Real-Time, AI-Powered ...

On December 17, BlackSky Technology Inc. (NYSE:BKSY) stated that it had successfully brought its third Gen-3 satellite into commercial operations, ...

Jan 2,2026
Europe Satellite Data Services Market Size, Share, 2033

Europe lacks sufficient domestic capacity in very high-resolution optical imaging, forcing reliance on US-based commercial providers like Maxar and ...

Jan 2,2026
Imagesat International (I.S.I) Ltd (TLV:ISI) Soars 26% But It's A Story Of Risk Vs Reward

Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. About TASE:ISI. Imagesat International (I.S.I). Provides space-based intelligence, satellite ...

Jan 2,2026
Asian Market Insights Neo-Neon Holdings And Two Other Penny Stocks To Consider

As the Asian markets continue to navigate a landscape marked by technological advancements and economic shifts, investors are keenly observing ...

Jan 2,2026
Satellite Data Confirms Rapid Expansion of Sudan Displacement Camps Amid North Darfur Conflict

The monitoring utilized Planet's PlanetScope constellation, which provides a daily scan of the Earth's landmass. These smallsat fleets allow for ...

Jan 2,2026
A stunning satellite image from NASA Worldview shows Morocco's landscape blanketed in ...

Hespress English (@HespressEnglish). 46 views. A stunning satellite image from NASA Worldview shows Morocco's landscape blanketed in white, ...

Jan 2,2026
'Several dozens' believed killed in fire at Swiss ski resort bar, say authorities | BBC News

... Constellation, police said. The cause is not known, although police ... Go to channel neo · The Most Controversial Place America Owns. neo•1.3M ...

Jan 2,2026
and another satellite caught it in the act. On December 17, 2025, a SpaceX–operated ... - Facebook

... WorldView-3, one of the most powerful commercial imaging satellites ... #space #earth #satellite # #satelliteinternet #spacetrash #elon #starlink # ...

Jan 2,2026
A stunning satellite image from NASA Worldview shows Morocco's landscape blanketed in ...

A recent NASA Worldview satellite image captures the stunning beauty of Morocco's Atlas and Rif mountains blanketed in snow.

Jan 2,2026
Is LAX closed due to Los Angeles fires? Here's what you need to know. - MSN

Satellite images provided to Business Insider by Maxar Technologies show the trail of destruction the fires have left in Altadena and Pacific ...

Jan 2,2026
SAR
Europe Satellite Data Services Market Size, Share, 2033

... satellite data services market include: Airbus Defence and Space; Thales Alenia Space; e-GEOS; ICEYE; Planet Labs; Spire Global; SES S.A.; Eutelsat ...

Jan 2,2026
Night sky, January 2026: What you can see tonight [maps] - Space

You can also use astronomy accessories to make your observing easier, and use our Satellite ... Capella. Algol will steadily brighten while it ...

Jan 2,2026
2026, January 11: Winter's Predawn Sky Matches Summer's Brightest Stars

Photo Caption – The constellation Orion rises into view during the early evening hours of February each year. by Jeffrey L. Hunt. Chicago, Illinois: ...

Jan 2,2026
ISRO's first launch of 2026 likely on Jan 10 - News Today

The EOS-N1 satellite, the payload for PSLV-C62 — the return-to-flight mission for PSLV — has arrived at SHAR on December 26 and is expected to ...

Jan 2,2026
What Is EOS-N1? Inside ISRO's First Satellite Launch on January 10 via PSLV C62 Mission

... EOS-10 oceanographic satellite alongside the India-Mauritius Joint Satellite (IMJS). HLVM-3 G1/OM1 will mark the first uncrewed test flight of ...

Jan 2,2026
Commercial Space Faces Geopolitical Crossroads Amid Global Realignment

Radar satellite operator Synspective: Share price has doubled in 12 ... 4 Takeaways: Umbra on How SAR is Unlocking... October 28, 2025. 4 ...

Jan 2,2026
View from Mars Hill: Meeting an old friend: the Verkamp Meteorite - Arizona Daily Sun

Umbra, Penumbra And Antumbra · Sunset · Earth · Uranus · Natural Satellite ... Cancer (constellation) · Stars · Stellar Astronomy · Star · Comet ...

Jan 2,2026
SSA

Questions about Commercial Innovation Center (CIC)