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
Rheinmetall and SATIM sign technology supply agreement to support Bundeswehr satellite ...

Image: Rheinmetall. Rheinmetall and SATIM Monitoring Satelitarny have signed a technology supply agreement to support Germany's satellite-based ...

Dec 22,2025
Rocket Lab launches final mission of 2025, sends Japanese Earth-observing satellite to orbit (video)

Rocket Lab launched its 21st and final mission of the year over the weekend, sending a private Japanese Earth-observing satellite to orbit.

Dec 22,2025
Intelligence agencies suspect Russia is developing anti-satellite weapon to target Starlink service

Even putting up 100 tonnes would take years to hit a satellite. It seems to be a wildly unpractical weapon that would consume the entire launch ...

Dec 22,2025
Sentinel-6B Extends Global Ocean Height Record - NASA Science

On November 16, 2025, the Sentinel-6B satellite launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB) in California. ... A satellite image of the hurricane ...

Dec 22,2025
Quantum is Coming: How Does it Change the Game for Space Systems and Networks?

This is hosted by Jeffrey Hill, executive editor of Via Satellite and ... © 2025 Access Intelligence – all rights reserved. Privacy Policy ...

Dec 22,2025
Before-and-after satellite imagery shows the effects of the RSF drone strikes on the northern ...

Rich Tedd ✈️ (@AfriMEOSINT). 17 likes. Before-and-after satellite imagery shows the effects of the RSF drone strikes on the northern section of ...

Dec 22,2025
2025: The Year in Visual Stories and Graphics - The New York Times

A satellite image of Gaza City. Video of the graphics reporter Ashley ... Satellite images are labeled to show evidence of mass grave ...

Dec 22,2025
Satellite imagery shows continued destruction of residential blocks in Gaza City by the ... - Instagram

Satellite imagery shows continued destruction of residential blocks in Gaza City by the Israeli occupationa rmy after the ceasefire on October 10, ...

Dec 22,2025
Sabotage Attack On Russian Su-30 Fighters Shown In Video - The War Zone

A satellite image of Lipetsk Air Base, dated 2024. Google Earth. At Lipetsk, the 4th Center is responsible for the 968th Research Instructor ...

Dec 22,2025
Russia Develops Area-Effect Weapon to Destroy Starlink Satellites, Intelligence Warns

Russia is reportedly developing a new anti-satellite weapon aimed at disrupting Starlink satellites, raising concerns over space debris and ...

Dec 22,2025
How a remote airstrip in Libya reshaped Sudan's civil war - Reuters

A partially rebuilt hangar at Kufrah airport, shown in a satellite image taken November 16, 2025. via Vantor. CAIRO/NAIROBI - A remote airstrip in ...

Dec 22,2025
Blastoff! Rocket Lab launches Japanese radar imaging satellite - YouTube

A Rocket Lab Electron rocket launched the QPS-SAR-15 satellite from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand on Dec. 21, 2025. Credit: Rocket Lab.

Dec 22,2025
Japan's H3 rocket launches navigation satellite but fails to reach planned orbit - YouTube

A Japanese H3 rocket launched the Michibiki 5 satellite from the Tanegashima Space Center on on Dec ... Rocket Lab launches Japanese radar imaging ...

Dec 22,2025
BXP Sells Empty Lot at 3625 Peterson Way in Santa Clara - San Francisco YIMBY

... 3625 Peterson Way, image via Google Satellite. BXP received approval for a dense office proposal, designed by Arc Tec ...

Dec 22,2025
Sudan: Briefing : What's In Blue - Security Council Report

A 16 December report by the Humanitarian Research Lab at the Yale School of Public Health, based on an analysis of satellite imagery, assessed ...

Dec 22,2025
Russia's new 'weapon of fear' designed to wreak havoc in space - TVP World

Russia's recently launched satellite is a weapon, says U.S. intelligence. Politics. Unlike a 2021 Russian anti-satellite missile test that destroyed ...

Dec 22,2025
NATO intelligence suspects Russia developing weapon to target Starlink satellites

Two NATO member states' intelligence services suspect Russia is developing a new weapon capable of crippling SpaceX's Starlink satellite network, ...

Dec 22,2025
Russia Suspected of Developing Weapons Against Starlink Satellites - Militarnyi

Russia is developing anti-satellite weapons aimed at the Starlink satellites of American billionaire Elon Musk.

Dec 22,2025
No Geopolitics, Just Gold: 5 North American Exploration Plays | INN

In late November, Rush Gold Corp. (CSE: RGN) (FSE: B6H) mobilized field crews and commenced high-resolution satellite imaging at its Skylight and ...

Dec 22,2025
Patches of the moon to become spacecraft graveyards, say researchers - The Guardian

... Image of Nasa's Lunar Trailblazer. Nasa's Lunar Trailblazer ... Satellite operators routinely use Earth's atmosphere to dispose of dead ...

Dec 22,2025
Satellite Launches
Sentinels in the Sky: 50 Years of GOES Satellite Observations - NASA Science

GOES-12, the final satellite in the third generation, launched in 2001. It included a new Solar X-ray Imager (SXI) as part of its payload. SXI was ...

Dec 22,2025
Rocket Lab launches final mission of 2025, sends Japanese Earth-observing satellite to orbit (video)

... imaging satellite to orbit (video). a black and white rocket launches ... An Arianespace Ariane 6 rocket launches two Galileo navigation satellites from ...

Dec 22,2025
Iran to Launch Three Satellites From Russia's Vostochny Cosmodrome | FinancialTribune

Designed for Earth observation, it offers imaging resolutions of about 5 meters in black-and-white and 10 meters in color. Built by Iran Electronics ...

Dec 22,2025
Iran Plans Launch of Three Domestic Satellites on Dec. 28 - Caspianpost.com

The Paya satellite is another key part of this mission, featuring an imaging resolution of 5 meters for black-and-white and 10 meters for color images ...

Dec 22,2025
Tory Bruno resigns as head of United Launch Alliance - Breaking Defense

(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images). WASHINGTON — Tory Bruno, the ... satellites into orbit. ULA has also reportedly been up for sale for ...

Dec 22,2025
Study: More eyes on the skies will help planes reduce climate-warming contrails | MIT News

MIT engineers analyzed contrail images taken with geostationary satellites, and compared them with images ... 3 Questions: How to launch a ...

Dec 22,2025
Starlink Satellites Are Sending Weird Signals That Could Seriously Mess Up Spaceflight

Kevin Carter//Getty Images. Here's what you'll learn when you read ... Since the first Starlink satellites launched into space in May of 2019 ...

Dec 22,2025
Why Rocket Lab (RKLB) Stock Jumping on Monday - TradingView

... launch, sending the QPS-SAR-15 satellite for Japan's iQPS into orbit.The mission, named The Wisdom God Guides, lifted off from New Zealand ...

Dec 22,2025
This Space Stock Extends Its Recent Rally After a Successful Launch, Space Force Contract

“The Wisdom Gods Guide” mission involved deploying satellites for Japan-based Earth imaging firm Q-shu Pioneers of Space, or iQPS. The launch ...

Dec 22,2025
Sabotage Attack On Russian Su-30 Fighters Shown In Video - The War Zone

According to the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (GUR), the raid was launched by “a representative of the resistance movement in Russia.” If ...

Dec 22,2025
Blastoff! Rocket Lab launches Japanese radar imaging satellite - YouTube

A Rocket Lab Electron rocket launched the QPS-SAR-15 satellite from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand on Dec. 21, 2025. Credit: Rocket Lab.

Dec 22,2025
Japan's H3 rocket launches navigation satellite but fails to reach planned orbit - YouTube

17. Add a comment... 9:23 · Go to channel · Blastoff! Rocket Lab launches Japanese radar imaging satellite. VideoFromSpace New 300 views · 13:18 · Go ...

Dec 22,2025
ASTER Data Archive: Now Processed, Ready and Waiting for You - USGS.gov

During its 25 years in orbit (and counting) aboard NASA's Terra satellite, the ASTER instrument has obtained more than 4.7 million images of the ...

Dec 22,2025
Satellites reveal heat leaking from largest US cryptocurrency mining center - Space

... launches two technical experiment satellites from. Spacecraft from Chinese launch nearly slammed into Starlink satellite, SpaceX says · Imagery from ...

Dec 22,2025
2025: The View from NOAA Satellites | NESDIS

And we launched our groundbreaking SWFO-L1 space weather ... NOAA's JPSS Program satellites capture before and after images of the ...

Dec 22,2025
Japanese H3 rocket fails during launch of navigation satellite (video) - Space

Japanese H3 rocket fails during launch of navigation satellite (video) ... imaging satellite to orbit (video). Latest in Launches & Spacecraft. a ...

Dec 22,2025
Dec. 22, 2015: Falcon 9 launches - Astronomy Magazine

In addition to lifting off and deploying 11 communications satellites ... 17, 2017: Arecibo images a Near-Earth asteroid · Today in the History of ...

Dec 22,2025
Japan's new flagship H3 rocket fails to put geolocation satellite into orbit - AP News

... a navigation satellite into orbit. This marks a setback for the country's new flagship rocket and space launch program.

Dec 22,2025
Rocket Lab Price Target Hiked, Launches To Expand Next Year | Investor's Business Daily

Stifel raises its price target on RKLB stock after defense satellite award. Rocket Lab completes 21st Electron launch of 2025 ... imaging company.

Dec 22,2025
Japanese H3 rocket fails to put geolocation satellite into orbit - Japan Today

Japan launches satellite Japan's H3 rocket carrying the Michibiki No. 5 satellite lifts off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima ...

Dec 22,2025
EO-MSI
BlackSky (BKSY) Surges as Jefferies Initiates Coverage with Buy Rating - GuruFocus

Analysts project a 25% annual topline growth, driven by Gen-3 satellite leverage and strong international demand, with revenues expected to double to ...

Dec 22,2025
Here Are Monday's Top Wall Street Analyst Research Calls: BlackSky Technology ... - 247WallSt

BlackSky Technology Inc. (NYSE: BKSY) was initiated with a Buy rating ... Constellation Brands · STZ • Vol: 2,166,522. +$6.61. +4.89%. $141.62.

Dec 22,2025
BlackSky Technology (BKSY) Surges 13% as Jefferies Initiates 'Buy' Rating, Highlighting ...

While companies like Maxar (now operating its intelligence unit under the Vantor brand) remain dominant, they face increasing competition from the ...

Dec 22,2025
Spire Global 2026 forecast: 30%+ rev growth, neutral or positive EBITDA by Q4

LA PLATA, Maryland — Multi-sensor satellite constellation ... Geospatial constellation operator Satellogic: $90M stock offering provides...

Dec 22,2025
Why BlackSky Stock Popped Today

Indeed, as StreetInsider.com reports, Jefferies believes BlackSky's new constellation could eventually support revenue as high as four times what ...

Dec 22,2025
Why BlackSky Stock Popped Today | The Motley Fool

(The stock's retraced a bit, but still up 15% at 1 p.m. ET). Spy satellite in orbit. Image source: Getty Images. Why Jefferies loves BlackSky stock.

Dec 22,2025
BlackSky surges 18% after Jefferies initiates coverage with Buy rating - Seeking Alpha

Satellite dish transmission data and storm clouds. somchaiito/iStock via Getty Images. BlackSky (BKSY) jumped nearly 18% on Monday after Jefferies ...

Dec 22,2025
BlackSky initiated with a Buy at Jefferies - TipRanks.com

... BlackSky's unique space based imagery offering and a refreshed constellation . ... BlackSky commences commercial operations of third gen-3 satellite ...

Dec 22,2025
Private Space Player Strengthens Satellite Infrastructure, Pushes Self-Reliance

# Satellite Infrastructure · # Self-Reliance. By leveraging private ... ISI's Shadow Banker · Technology. Dec 09, 2025. 8 min(s) read. Nothing Phone ...

Dec 22,2025
No Geopolitics, Just Gold: 5 North American Exploration Plays | Markets Insider

Satellite provider Vantor Inc. has confirmed that WorldView-3 tasking over the area of interest has commenced, with enhanced high-resolution ...

Dec 22,2025
BlackSky Stock Soars After Jefferies' Bold Forecast - COINTURK FINANCE

BlackSky's capacity for high-frequency satellite imagery services aligns with increasing market demand for timely, high-resolution data, a factor ...

Dec 22,2025
BlackSky Stock Just Mooned - 247WallSt

This morning, Jefferies initiated coverage of spy satellite operator BlackSky Technology Inc. (NYSE: BKSY) with a buy rating and a $23 price ...

Dec 22,2025
Jefferies says international demand could fuel next leg of growth for this satellite imagery stock

Jefferies believes that accelerating international demand could help double BlackSky 's sales through 2028. The investment firm initiated the ...

Dec 22,2025
Stock Market Live December 22: Gold, Silver, and Nvidia Rallies Drive S&P 500 (VOO) Higher

BlackSky Stock Just Mooned. 1 minute ago. Live ... This morning, Jefferies initiated coverage of spy satellite operator BlackSky Technology Inc.

Dec 22,2025
BlackSky Technology Is The Latest Space Stock To Grab Investor Attention - Stocktwits

The analyst cited BlackSky's unique space-based imagery offering and a refreshed constellation by the end of 2026. Jefferies expects these to ...

Dec 22,2025
Doomed Starlink: crashed satellite photographed in orbit - Universe Space Tech

Vantor (formerly Maxar) has published an image taken by the WorldView Legion satellite. It shows the Starlink satellite with the serial number 35956.

Dec 22,2025
Jefferies initiates coverage on BlackSky Technology stock with Buy rating

... satellite constellation expected by year-end 2026. InvestingPro data ... Additionally, BlackSky successfully integrated its third Gen-3 satellite ...

Dec 22,2025
Five Things to Know, Dec. 22, 2025 | The American Legion

2. Two NATO-nation intelligence services suspect Russia is developing a new anti-satellite weapon to target Elon Musk's Starlink constellation with ...

Dec 22,2025
Jefferies Initiates BlackSky Technology at Buy With $23 Price Target - MarketScreener

BlackSky Technology Adds Third Gen-3 Satellite to Commercial Operations. Dec. 17 MT. BlackSky Technology files for potential $250 million securities ...

Dec 22,2025
Jefferies initiates coverage on BlackSky Technology stock with Buy rating - Investing.com

Furthermore, BlackSky produced the first very high-resolution images from its third Gen-3 satellite less than 24 hours after its November launch. The ...

Dec 22,2025
SAR
Rheinmetall and SATIM sign technology supply agreement to support Bundeswehr satellite ...

The contract supports SPOCK-1, the German satellite reconnaissance programme awarded to Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions, with SATIM supplying ...

Dec 22,2025
Rocket Lab awarded $816M prime contract to build missile-defense satellite constellation for ...

Major contract worth billions for space ...

Dec 22,2025
WTA Certification Program announces Tier 3 Certification of Saudi Net Link's Khobar and ...

WTA Certification Program announces Tier 3 Certification of Saudi Net Link's Khobar and Rawabi-Riyadh teleports. Writer: Satellite Evolution Group.

Dec 22,2025
Quantum is Coming: How Does it Change the Game for Space Systems and Networks?

This is hosted by Jeffrey Hill, executive editor of Via Satellite and features Capella Space CEO Frank Backes and Joe Touch, principal scientist ...

Dec 22,2025
Starcloud plans its next power plays after training first AI model in space - GeekWire

Next year, Starcloud-1's Nvidia H100 chip will start analyzing synthetic-aperture radar data from Capella Space's satellite constellation. “The ...

Dec 22,2025
Germany Taps Rheinmetall, ICEYE for $1.9B Military SAR Satellite Capability

Rheinmetall and ICEYE have secured a German Armed Forces contract worth 1.9 billion to provide space-based reconnaissance data.

Dec 22,2025
Rheinmetall and SATIM sign technology supply agreement for SAR programme

The agreement supports SPOCK-1, the German satellite reconnaissance program awarded to Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions. SATIM will provide its ...

Dec 22,2025
Press Release from Business Wire: Axelspace Corporation - Space Daily

... satellite constellation." The full press release is available here ... Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions to provide SAR reconnaissance data to German ...

Dec 22,2025
ICEYE, Rheinmetall win €1.7B contract for space reconnaissance - Evertiq

German defence company Rheinmetall and Finnish satellite firm ICEYE have received a EUR 1.7 billion order from the German military for the space ...

Dec 22,2025
HSI
SSA

Questions about Commercial Innovation Center (CIC)