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
Idaho Adopts OroraTech Satellite-Based Detection, Takes Lead in U.S. Wildfire Resilience

The Idaho Department of Lands has partnered with OroraTech USA to deploy a statewide satellite-based wildfire detection. ... imaging to detect heat ...

Sep 12,2025
Maxar executive renews warning that budget cuts threaten commercial remote sensing industry

... commercial satellite imagery, renewing industry concerns raised in a June letter to Congress. “The industry has proven the value of commercial imagery ...

Sep 12,2025
Hubble Surveys Cloudy Cluster - NASA Science

New U.S.-European Sea Level Satellite Will Help Safeguard Ships at Sea ... This new NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image features a cloudy starscape ...

Sep 12,2025
Dipankar Sengupta #SundayClub on X: "Get the satellite imagery from the Chinese. After all ...

Zamir Akram has a long piece critiquing Western analyses of Sindoor. I wanted to address one persistent concern--that India is suppressing satellite ...

Sep 12,2025
Tropical Storm Mario forms off Mexico's Pacific coast, expected to bring rain and possible flooding

... satellite image taken Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at 10:10 a.m. EDT and provided by NOAA, shows Tropical Storm Mario in the Pacific Ocean off the ...

Sep 12,2025
Tropical Storm Mario forms off Mexico's Pacific coast, expected to bring rain and possible flooding

This GOES-19 GeoColor satellite image taken Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at 10 ...

Sep 12,2025
Israeli terror in Gaza City intensifies following failed assassination attempt against Hamas negotiators

Satellite imagery reveals a vast patchwork of tents and ruined buildings populated by displaced civilians determined not to be uprooted again. Al ...

Sep 12,2025
Israeli intelligence agency balked at Netanyahu's strike in Qatar - The Washington Post

This satellite photo provided by Planet Labs PBC shows the residential compound in Doha, Qatar, targeted on Tuesday by an Israeli airstrike.

Sep 12,2025
Satellite imagery shows more than 1,800 buildings in and around Gaza C... | cnn news | TikTok

Satellite imagery shows more than 1,800 buildings in and around Gaza City have been destroyed or damaged since Israel announced plans to take over ...

Sep 12,2025
Blastoff! SpaceX launches Nusantara Lima telcom satellite, nails landing - YouTube

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the Nusantara Lima satellite from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station today at 9:56 p.m. EDT (0156 GMT ...

Sep 12,2025
Satellite imagery shows more than 1,800 buildings in and around Gaza City have been ... - Instagram

According to a CNN analysis of satellite imagery. Tent camps at Gaza City's perimeter emptied out. Forcing displaced Palestinians to be displaced once ...

Sep 12,2025
Video: Who is Erika Kirk? | CNN

erika 2.jpg · Who is Erika Kirk? 03:13 ; - Gaza_City_Sats_THUMB.png · Satellite imagery reveals wide destruction in Gaza City. 02:33 ; 113936_south korea ...

Sep 12,2025
'Big leap forward': How AI is already shaping your hurricane forecasts | WLRN

Satellite imagery of three tropical waves identified on June 28th, 2024. The rightmost tropical. NOAA. /. Miami Herald. Satellite imagery of three ...

Sep 12,2025
Intellian Debuts Manpack Terminal for Eutelsat's OneWeb Network - Via Satellite

It aims to address the need for next-generation LEO capabilities within the broader military satellite communications domain, as defense sectors ...

Sep 12,2025
Apex Raises Another $200M to Expand Satellite Bus Production Capacity

Investors are pouring another $200 million into satellite bus developer and manufacturer Apex to enable the company to continue efforts to ...

Sep 12,2025
#geospatial #geoai #ai #satellite #deeplearning | Qiusheng Wu - LinkedIn

... geospatial #geoai #ai #satellite #deeplearning.

Sep 12,2025
Meeting For 445 North Sixth Street, San Jose - San Francisco YIMBY

... image via Google Satellite. September 12, 2025. Public Review Period For 2334 Lundy Place, San Jose · 531 Stanford Avenue outlined approximately by ...

Sep 12,2025
NATO Adopts Front Door Approach to Engage With Space Startups - Via Satellite

Lessons from Ukraine were a theme of DSEI this week, and how quick Ukraine was to adapt technologies like satellite imagery and integrate it into its ...

Sep 12,2025
Early Edition: September 12, 2025 - Just Security

... satellite imagery and analyses conducted by the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab and verified by Reuters. The drones, which have a range exceeding ...

Sep 12,2025
Sentinel-2 Forest Typology Mapping in Central Africa: Assessing Deep Learning and Image ...

However, this task remains challenging due to limitations inherent to optical satellite imagery, especially dis-turbances caused by two major ...

Sep 12,2025
Satellite Launches
Trump admin escalates space race with China, banning visa-holding scientists from working at NASA

... Images/File via CNN Newsource</i><br/>The Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceship blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. By CNN Newsource. follow ...

Sep 12,2025
Maxar executive renews warning that budget cuts threaten commercial remote sensing industry

... satellite imagery, renewing industry concerns raised in a June letter to Congress. ... Frontgrade Launches SIMOPS Dual-Channel Power Amplifier ...

Sep 12,2025
QinetiQ and Xona increase resilience of GPS using new satellites

... Images Plus/Getty Images) · Spire Global awarded $11.1M NOAA contract for GNSS-RO weather data. Sep 12, 2025. Photo: Safran E&D · Safran launches AI ...

Sep 12,2025
Night launch: SpaceX sends Falcon 9 rocket into flight carrying Indonesian satellite - Yahoo

Has NASA really found life on Mars? Perseverance just sent back images containing traces of minerals that could've only been produced by microbal life ...

Sep 12,2025
Spire Global awarded $11.1M NOAA contract for GNSS-RO weather data - GPS World

... Images Plus/Getty Images). Spire Global Inc., a global provider of space ... launches AI tool for GNSS simulation automation. Sep 12, 2025.

Sep 12,2025
SpaceX launch recap: Live updates from Nusantara Lima launch in Florida - The Palm Beach Post

SpaceX launch recap: Indonesian satellite launches after 3 straight scrubs at Cape Canaveral ... Boeing releases Nusantara Lima satellite images. Update ...

Sep 12,2025
Research Manager - Resilience and Spatial Planning for Ukraine, based in Dnirpo

... satellite imagery; (c) provision of related database and (web)-mapping ... IMPACT was launched at the initiative of ACTED, an international ...

Sep 12,2025
Safran launches AI tool for GNSS simulation automation - GPS World

... satellite upgrade strengthens European navigation services. Sep 11, 2025 ... Images. Hide Images. Reading Guide. Reading Guide. Focus Outline.

Sep 12,2025
Satellite images reveal wide destruction in Gaza City as Israel steps up assault

Satellite imagery taken by Planet Labs on September 5 shows large-scale demolitions, mostly of residential buildings, when compared to imagery taken ...

Sep 12,2025
This Day in History on September 12: First Satellite Phone Network Launched

The launch of this network was the culmination of decades of research and development in satellite and telecommunications technology. It opened new ...

Sep 12,2025
NASA satellite images reveal a new island formed in Alaska - and experts say climate ...

The two-square-mile (five sq km) landmass, known as Prow Knob, was once entirely surrounded by the deep ice of the Alsek Glacier. But NASA ...

Sep 12,2025
NATO launches 'Eastern Sentry' operation in response to Russian drone incursions - KESQ

NATO launches 'Eastern Sentry' operation in response to ... Satellite images reveal wide destruction in Gaza City as Israel steps up assault ...

Sep 12,2025
'Big leap forward': How AI is already shaping your hurricane forecasts | WLRN

Satellite imagery of three tropical waves identified on June 28th, 2024. ... Andrew Brady, a Georgia-based meteorologist and AI engineer, just launched ...

Sep 12,2025
Some public service jobs will be cut as Ottawa adopts AI: chief data officer | Lethbridge News Now

There is no timeline yet for the registry's launch. Different departments and agencies have been using AI for years for tasks like analyzing satellite ...

Sep 12,2025
Week in images: 08-12 September 2025 - ESA

We use cookies which are essential for you to access our website and/or to provide you with our services, enable you to share our website content ...

Sep 12,2025
Apex Raises Another $200M to Expand Satellite Bus Production Capacity

In March 2024, Apex launched its own spacecraft into orbit built on its Aries bus that can operate in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) and Geostationary Orbit ( ...

Sep 12,2025
Rocket Report: Russia's rocket engine predicament; 300th launch to the ISS - Ars Technica

... satellite to launch on a commercial rocket this year, all by SpaceX. There were 21 such satellites that launched on commercial vehicles in 2015 ...

Sep 12,2025
Satellite imagery shows destruction in Gaza City - YouTube

Satellite imagery shows more than 1800 buildings in and around Gaza City have been destroyed or damaged since Israel announced plans to take over ...

Sep 12,2025
Space Cargo Out for Delivery Days Before Next Resupply Mission Launches - NASA

Images · NASA Live · NASA Apps · Podcasts · Image of the Day · e-Books ... New U.S.-European Sea Level Satellite Will Help Safeguard Ships at Sea.

Sep 12,2025
New alliance launches insurance-linked methane detection for energy firms

Technology-driven emissions monitoring for insurers. The new solution leverages Momentick's software platform, which utilises satellite imagery to ...

Sep 12,2025
EO-MSI
Australia's Biggest Gas Export Plant Gets Final Approval to Run to 2070 - Bloomberg.com

Satellite image of the Karratha Gas Plant at Woodside's North West Shelf project. Source: Airbus, CNES/Airbus, Maxar Technologies/Google Maps. Gift ...

Sep 12,2025
Starlink for Only $59 Per Month? SpaceX Offers Cheapest Satellite Deal Yet | PCMag

However, the discount for residential plans is for new sign-ups, lasts for 12 months, and seems to only be available in certain areas where SpaceX ...

Sep 12,2025
Lebanon licenses Elon Musk's Starlink for satellite Internet services | Arab News PK

... satellite image shows long-range 'suicide' drones and launching gear north of the airport in Nyala, Sudan, on May 6, 2025. (Maxar Technologies ...

Sep 12,2025
Maxar executive renews warning that budget cuts threaten commercial remote sensing industry

... Maxar executive renews warning on commercial satellite funding cuts. ... The CEOs of Maxar, Planet, BlackSky, Iceye US, Capella Space and ground ...

Sep 12,2025
Long-range 'kamikaze' drones seen near RSF base could worsen conflict in Sudan

... May 6, 2025. Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS. Follow topic: Drones. Published Sep 12, 2025, 05:03 PM. Updated Sep 12, 2025, 05:03 PM.

Sep 12,2025
US deploys MQ-9 Reaper drones to the Caribbean - Task & Purpose

The open-source satellite group Satellogic also photographed two Reapers next to a hangar at the airport, per the @MT_Anderson account on X. The ...

Sep 12,2025
Exclusive: Long-range 'kamikaze' drones seen near RSF base could worsen conflict in Sudan

Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS. [1/2]A satellite image shows long-range 'suicide' drones and launching gear north of the airport in Nyala ...

Sep 12,2025
GSMA Outlines Spectrum Regulatory Guidance for D2D Services - Via Satellite

Mobility Neo Space Group to Acquire In-Flight Entertainment Provider Display Interactive ... Satellite-to-cell graphic. Photo illustration: Via ...

Sep 12,2025
BlackSky Technology (BKSY.N) Sees Sharp Intraday Spike—Here's What the Data Shows

- Two hypotheses emerge: social media-fueled short-term momentum or satellite/defense tech sector thematic trading. BlackSky Technology (BKSY.N) made ...

Sep 12,2025
Optical Ground Station Startup Cailabs Raises 57M Euro, With EIB Backing - Via Satellite

Mobility Neo Space Group to Acquire In-Flight Entertainment Provider Display Interactive · Finance. Optical Ground Station Startup Cailabs Raises 57M ...

Sep 12,2025
NATO Adopts Front Door Approach to Engage With Space Startups - Via Satellite

Mobility Neo Space Group to Acquire In-Flight Entertainment Provider Display Interactive · Government/Military. NATO Adopts Front Door Approach to ...

Sep 12,2025
Costa Rican police arrest 4 in killing of Nicaraguan opposition figure | The Straits Times

... May 6, 2025. Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS. Follow topic: Drones. Published Sep 12, 2025, 04:53 PM. Updated Sep 12, 2025, 04:53 PM.

Sep 12,2025
SpaceX Starlink Capture Image Of Secret Chinese Air Base In Rare Orbital Event

... Maxar Technologies | The Daily Galaxy --Great Discoveries Channel. A SpaceX Starlink Satellite unexpectedly appeared in a high-resolution orbital ...

Sep 12,2025
Predator Helios Neo 16S AI showcases cutting-edge portable gaming power | TahawulTech.com

AT&T acquires U.S. satellite service provider assets · Trending · Digital ... Predator Helios Neo 16S AI showcases cutting-edge portable gaming power.

Sep 12,2025
Constellation Brands stock hits 52-week low at $142.21 - Investing.com Australia

Evercore ISI set a new target of $170 after Constellation's guidance downgrade and industry conference presentation. Jefferies cut its price ...

Sep 12,2025
UAE delegation explores space collaboration in Japan - SatellitePro ME

Neo Space Group to acquire Display Interactive. Sponsored Content ... SatellitePro ME addresses all aspects of the satellite industry ...

Sep 12,2025
Satellite Photos Show Chinese Military Outpost in South China Sea - Newsweek

Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry by email for comment. How China Built Subi Reef Artificial Island. Imagery captured by Maxar on ...

Sep 12,2025
Kamikaze Drones With 1,200-Mile Range Spotted In Sudan's Darfur Conflict - DroneXL

A May 6, 2025 satellite view captures long‑range “suicide” drones and launch equipment north of Nyala Airport in Sudan. Maxar Technologies/Handout.

Sep 12,2025
NEO Battery Secures $4.5M Order for Silicon Drone Batteries | NBMFF Stock News

For more information, please visit the Company's website at: https://www.neobatterymaterials.com/. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Spencer Huh

Sep 12,2025
Satellite snaps Starlink passing underneath while taking candid shots of Chinese airbase

As Maxar Intelligence's WorldView Legion satellite sped over China, it snapped a picture of the Dingxin airbase below. In that photo, a surprise.

Sep 12,2025
SAR
Satellite images reveal wide destruction in Gaza City as Israel steps up assault - KYMA

... riesgos legales · Rusia acaba de decir lo que Ucrania lleva meses intentando comunicarle a Trump: las conversaciones de paz no avanzan. MORE NEWS ...

Sep 12,2025
New U.S. military satellite constellation takes shape with first launch from Vandenberg SFB

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base on Sept. 10, 2025. It carried 21 satellites for ...

Sep 12,2025
Spacecraft Startup Apex Raises $200 Million In Series D Round | Aviation Week Network

Satellite bus manufacturer Apex has raised $200 million in a Series D ... EOS Works Toward Anti-Satellite Laser Demo.

Sep 12,2025
Innovation Ahead: Highlights from the New Tech Seminar Program - YouTube

39:55 · Go to channel. SAR for Sovereignty and Security: Inside Umbra's Mission Solutions Business With Jason Mallare. Via Satellite New 20 views · 20 ...

Sep 12,2025
Mysteriously Bright Waters near Antarctica Explained - Eos.org

Shiny-shelled diatoms make a remote part of the Southern Ocean appear especially reflective in satellite imagery.

Sep 12,2025
DSEI 2025: Iceye unveils ISR processing container for faster satellite intelligence - Janes

Finnish satellite company Iceye unveiled its 'ISR Cell' command-and-control (C2) module for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) ...

Sep 12,2025
ICEYE Launches the ISR Cell for Global Tactical Space-Based Intelligence

ICEYE, the global leader in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite operations, launched the ISR Cell, an end-to-end containerized unit that ...

Sep 12,2025
Idaho Adopts OroraTech Satellite-Based Detection, Takes Lead in U.S. Wildfire Resilience

The Idaho Department of Lands has partnered with OroraTech USA to deploy a statewide satellite-based wildfire detection. ... ICEYE Appoints Yasuhiro ...

Sep 12,2025
Messium Plants £3.3M Hyperspectral Seed - Payload Space

How it works: Messium uses hyperspectral data from publicly available sources and commercial hyperspectral satellite operators—including Pixxel and ...

Sep 12,2025
Project Aims To Make Real-Time Digital Twin Of The World - EE Times

Iceye Satellite testing The Iceye team tests a satellite in an anechoic chamber (Source: Iceye). BlackSky – Satellite Imaging. Satellite imagery ...

Sep 12,2025
ISRO & HAL Join Forces to Boost Small Satellite Launch Vehicle Production - Siliconindia

ISRO Successfully Launches Earth Observation Satellite from Sriharikota · ISRO\'s SSLV Set for Final Test Flight Today, to Deploy EOS-08 Satellite ...

Sep 12,2025
SSA

Questions about Commercial Innovation Center (CIC)