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
Hawaii beachside resort rocked by explosion, injuring at least 7 people - NBC News

The cause of the blast early Thursday evening in Maui was not immediately determined. Satellite imagery of the location of The Whaler in Kaanapali.

Feb 21,2025
Kapta Space launches with $5 million in seed funding to build out its satellite radar technology

Capella Space, a San Francisco-based startup, for example, makes satellite radar imagery technology for both commercial and governmental purposes.

Feb 21,2025
Tropical forest's last old growth is being toppled — illegally - Nature

Satellite imagery helps to identify two hotspots of deforestation in the Atlantic Forest along Brazil's eastern coast.

Feb 21,2025
NASA Satellite Technology Enhances Agricultural Data Collection for NASS - Seed World

By combining satellite observations with field data collected by National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) enumerators, the U.S. Department of ...

Feb 21,2025
Saudi Arabia may be expanding ballistic missile force, satellite images show

A satellite image of a suspected Saudi strategic missile force base ... satellite imagery. Fabian Hinz, a defence and military researcher at ...

Feb 21,2025
Airbus-built Biomass forest measuring satellite shipped to Kourou

Biomass, the ESA's Airbus-built satellite, has left Toulouse for its journey by ship to Kourou, French Guiana, ready for launch.

Feb 21,2025
This Week in Geospatial, 3D, and AEC News: UAV Lidar, Partnerships, and More

The products will be officially introduced next week at the Esri Federal GIS Conference, and are derived from satellite imagery. Want more stories ...

Feb 21,2025
Remote Sensing Technology Market to Hit USD 51.04 Billion by 2032, at 11.32% CAGR

The Remote Sensing Technology Market is expanding with demand for satellite imaging, environmental monitoring, and defense applications, driven by ...

Feb 21,2025
UNDP Women in Tech - Unlocking Geospatial Technologies in UNDP's Crisis Response ...

Recently, Gaia began exploring the potential of artificial intelligence in crisis response, focusing on change detection using satellite imagery. “I'm ...

Feb 21,2025
Airbus CEO hints at MBDA-like venture for European space merger | Reuters

Now, European firms are scrambling to remain competitive on space activities as demand in the commercial satellite market is shifting more towards ...

Feb 21,2025
NASA Boosts U.S. Agriculture with Satellite Tech | Wisconsin Ag Connection

Long-term Benefits This synergy between ground data collection and advanced satellite imagery not only improves current agricultural statistics but ...

Feb 21,2025
Bentonville lands Utah bike maker Ari's satellite store - Axios NW Arkansas

Direct-to-consumer bike maker Ari announced plans to open a satellite location in Bentonville ... The image captures an action-packed moment of a ...

Feb 21,2025
Subaru Tribeca Sirius satellite radio kit - H621SXA101 | Heritage Subaru, Owings Mills MD

View SIRIUS Satellite Radio Kit Full-Sized Product Image 1 of 2 View SIRIUS Satellite Radio Kit Full-Sized Product Image 2 of 2 ❯. Fits Tribeca ...

Feb 21,2025
EDGE & ST Engineering Propel UAE's SAR Satellite Ambitions - TechAfrica News

... satellite imaging, autonomous space systems, and sovereign satellite development. Attendees of IDEX 2025 can visit EDGE and its portfolio of ...

Feb 21,2025
Principal Satellite Image Processing Engineer - Delhi/NCR,Bengaluru/Bangalore - Satsure

Job Description for Principal Satellite Image Processing Engineer in Satsure in Delhi/NCR,Bengaluru/Bangalore for 8 to 10 years of experience.

Feb 21,2025
NASA Satellite Technology Advances NASS Agricultural Data Collection | Farms.com

Merging this on-the-ground field data with NASA's state-of-the-art satellite imagery has significantly improved NASS's ability to predict crop yields ...

Feb 21,2025
Is Self-Supervised Pre-training on Satellite Imagery Better than ImageNet? A Systematic ...

Is Self-Supervised Pre-training on Satellite Imagery Better than ImageNet? A Systematic Study with Sentinel-2. February 2025. DOI:10.48550/arXiv ...

Feb 21,2025
Programme 3 - Satellite Imaging for Rail Navigation (SIMRAN) - IIT Kanpur

Screenshot of Train Tracking. ©2006, IIT Kanpur, All Rights Reserved.

Feb 21,2025
TCarta announces satellite derived Bathymetry product to supplement official nautical charts ...

... GIS Conference in Washington, D.C.. Derived from recently acquired satellite imagery, TCarta Satellite Reconnaissance Charts are digital maps ...

Feb 21,2025
iPhone 16e available for pre-order today: Release date, price, key features, what to know

Find My via satellite: Utilize the Find My apps without phone service. Apple Intelligence. The iPhone 16e runs with Apple's A18 chip, which allows for ...

Feb 21,2025
Satellite Launches
X-37B Spaceplane Shares Earth Image For First Time As New Mission Details Emerge

A video montage shown before the latest launch of a U.S. Space Force X-37B ... Recent satellite imagery shows a curious white-colored object at the end ...

Feb 21,2025
Kapta Space launches with $5 million in seed funding to build out its satellite radar technology

Kapta aims to launch low-cost satellites for improved imaging and analytics. Kapta Space, a space tech startup, emerged from stealth Friday with ...

Feb 21,2025
US Space Force reveals 1st look at secretive X-37B space plane in orbit (photo)

According to a brief U.S. Space Force statement released alongside the photo, the image ... SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites from Florida's Space ...

Feb 21,2025
Small Satellite Star Tracker Market to Reach $1.3 Billion by 2030 - Key Trends & Growth Analysis

As launch costs decline, small satellite deployments multiply, reinforcing the demand for reliable attitude solutions. All these factors converge to ...

Feb 21,2025
SpaceX launches Starlink 12-14 mission from Cape Canaveral in Florida

Spectators at KARS Park watch the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying Starlink satellites on mission 12-14. The rocket launched at 10:19 ...

Feb 21,2025
Veteran trader takes second look at space-intel company - TheStreet

Rocket Lab launched the first in a new generation of imaging satellites ... satellite and launch support operations and on-orbit maintenance services.

Feb 21,2025
SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites from Florida's Space Coast (video)

— SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 21 Starlink satellites on record-setting 26th flight (video, photos). This launch was SpaceX's 23rd of 2025 ...

Feb 21,2025
NASA's PUNCH Mission Nears Launch

This stream, called the solar wind, is washing over our planet, causing breathtaking auroras, impacting satellites and astronauts in space, and even ...

Feb 21,2025
Rocket Report: SpaceX lands in the Bahamas; ULA tests modified booster - Ars Technica

... imaging and data relay satellites for companies like BlackSky and Kinéis. ... Former small satellite launch company ABL Space Systems has capped a ...

Feb 21,2025
WATCH LIVE: SpaceX to launch Starlink satellites from Florida's Space Coast | Fox Business Video

This video is playing in picture-in-picture. LIVE. WATCH LIVE: SpaceX to launch Starlink satellites from Florida's Space Coast. Elon Musk's company ...

Feb 21,2025
Debris from Blue Origin and SpaceX rockets found in Bahamas and Europe | CNN

The nose cone, or payload fairing, is designed to shield satellites during launch and break away from the vehicle after it reaches the vacuum of space ...

Feb 21,2025
WATCH LIVE at 10:19 a.m.: SpaceX targets next Starlink launch from Florida coast - WKMG

The crew of NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 mission poses for a photo during ... SpaceX launches 21 Starlink satellites from Florida's Space Coast. Read ...

Feb 21,2025
LIVE: SpaceX's Falcon 9 launching 23 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral - News4JAX

This is the 21st flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which SpaceX says has launched CRS-26, OneWeb Launch 16, Intelsat IS-40e, ...

Feb 21,2025
TCarta Announces Satellite Derived Bathymetry Product to Supplement Official Nautical ...

Derived from recently acquired satellite imagery, TCarta Satellite ... “We launched the Satellite Reconnaissance Charts to enhance the awareness ...

Feb 21,2025
TI Launches First Space-Grade 200V GaN FET Gate Driver for Compact, Efficient Satellites

Satellite systems are growing increasingly complex to meet the demand for more on-orbit processing and data transmission, higher-resolution imaging, ...

Feb 21,2025
TODAY: SpaceX set to launch rocket from Cape Canaveral - WFTV

Crews are readying the Falcon 9 rocket for a Friday morning liftoff. It will carry and deploy 23 new Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit; 13 of ...

Feb 21,2025
It's like Uber, but with guns - YouTube

... launches-in-los-angeles/ KTLA 5 News - Keeping ... Satellite Images Reveal The Reality Of Saudi Arabia's $2 Trillion Megacity In The Desert.

Feb 21,2025
PLD Space expands global launch network with new Oman spaceport

BlackSky and Rocket Lab Set Launch Date for First Gen-3 Satellite ... Ultra-low-noise Infrared Detectors Advance Exoplanet Imaging · NASA ...

Feb 21,2025
China Prepares for Launch of Tianwen 2 Asteroid Mission - Space Daily

... Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province, according to th. ... Ultra-low-noise Infrared Detectors Advance Exoplanet Imaging · NASA ...

Feb 21,2025
KICKING OFF THE WEEKEND: SpaceX prepares for another Starlink launch

(File photo). SPACEX STARLINK LAUNCH. KICKING OFF THE ... SpaceX successfully launches more Starlink satellites overnight. The ...

Feb 21,2025
EO-MSI
Veteran trader takes second look at space-intel company - TheStreet

The satellite, which is part of BlackSky's new Gen-3 series, will ... constellation,” BlackSky Chief Executive Brian O'Toole said in a statement.

Feb 21,2025
Remote Sensing Technology Market to Hit USD 51.04 Billion - GlobeNewswire

Maxar Technologies (USA) (Earth Imaging, Satellite Services); Esri (USA) (Geospatial Software, GIS Solutions); General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc ...

Feb 21,2025
Live Nation stock price target raised to $180 at Evercore ISI - Investing.com

Evercore ISI raised their adjusted operating income (AOI) estimates for ... Constellation Brands: Is Warren Buffett's New Stock Worth a Punt?

Feb 21,2025
Rocket Report: SpaceX lands in the Bahamas; ULA tests modified booster - Ars Technica

The payload was a new-generation small electro-optical reconnaissance satellite for BlackSky. Rocket Lab has not disclosed a projected number of ...

Feb 21,2025
Heriot-Watt University to Advance Affordable Satellite Connectivity with MAMUT Project

... satellite mega-constellation market by advancing satellite efficiency and ... BlackSky and Rocket Lab Set Launch Date for First Gen-3 Satellite

Feb 21,2025
Satellite-as-a-Service Market to Reach USD 4.43 Billion in 2023, Growing at 15.62 ... - Taiwan News

Maxar Technologies Inc. Iridium Communications Inc. The detailed segments and sub-segment of the market are explained below: By Satellite Type

Feb 21,2025
Exclusive: North Korea testing larger new recon drone, pushing deployment plan | NK PRO

... SkySat image taken on Jan. 22. The aircraft appears similar in design ... North Korean ICBM factory upgrade project slows, satellite imagery shows ...

Feb 21,2025
ATSS and Intelsat to boost satellite communications in KSA and MENA - BroadcastPro ME

Related Posts · EDGE and Lockheed to explore collaboration in aerospace and defence · BlackSky and Rocket Lab set launch window for first Gen-3 ...

Feb 21,2025
Korovin Volcano Volcanic Ash Advisory: VA NOT IDENTIFIABLE FM SATELLITE DATA.

... satellite (image: WorldView. The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) reported that the alert level for the volcano was raised to "yellow", as an ...

Feb 21,2025
Comparative assessment of satellite-based models through Planetscope and landsat-8 for ...

Satellite data were acquired through two multispectral satellites, namely Landsat-8 (Collection 2, Level-1) and PlanetScope (SuperDove). The ...

Feb 21,2025
Saudi Arabia : Neo Space Group planning April revamp of UP42 - Intelligence Online

Since renamed NSG Geospatial Services, that entity, employing more than 400 staff, has been acquiring data sets from satellite operators and providing ...

Feb 21,2025
Rocket Lab's Electron beating Musk's Falcon 9 - SatNews

... satellite in the Earth-imaging satellite constellation of real-time space-based intelligence company BlackSky. Satnews. February 19th saw the New ...

Feb 21,2025
Rocket Lab launches satellite from Mahia peninsula - MSN

It carried a payload approved by the government, of the first of Blacksky's new earth-imaging satellites that it aims to make compatible with military ...

Feb 21,2025
SpaceWatch.Global on X: "Rocket Lab Launches Gen-3 Satellite for BlackSky in 60th ...

Rocket Lab Launches Gen-3 Satellite for BlackSky in 60th Electron Mission Rocket Lab has successfully deployed BlackSky's first Gen-3 satellite on ...

Feb 21,2025
Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 450th Falcon rocket on Starlink 12-14 mission

Rocket Lab launches BlackSky Gen-3 satellite on 60th Electron flight · February 18, 2025 · SpaceX sticks first Falcon 9 booster landing in The Bahamas.

Feb 21,2025
Europe's AI Ethics Vs. America's Innovation: The Clash That Could Shape the Future - DSA

BlackSky Technology Inc. leads in geospatial intelligence innovation ... – Geospatial Intelligence: Companies like BlackSky use AI to analyze satellite ...

Feb 21,2025
EDGE and Lockheed to explore collaboration in aerospace and defence - BroadcastPro ME

... BlackSky and Rocket Lab set launch window for first Gen-3 satellite · February ...

Feb 21,2025
Each year the Harbin Ice Festival transforms the city into a frozen wonderland, and this ... - Instagram

... satellite image captures the magic from space. The festival ... WorldView-3 collected this shortwave infrared (SWIR) image of Altadena ...

Feb 21,2025
Rocket Lab (RKLB) Successfully Launches Gen-3 Satellite for AI-Powered Earth Imaging

Brian O'Toole, CEO of BlackSky, stated: “The successful launch of our first Gen-3 satellite represents a major step forward in delivering ...

Feb 21,2025
Rocket Lab Ascends: A New Era in Space Launch Dominance - Science Magazine

... satellite for BlackSky into space. This mission, named ... satellite into the depths of space for BlackSky's robust Earth-imaging constellation.

Feb 21,2025
SAR
Mercury's Hollows may be Young and Active - Eos.org

Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window). A satellite orbiting Mercury Artist's impression of the MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment ...

Feb 21,2025
Satellite-as-a-Service Market to Reach USD 4.43 Billion in 2023, Growing at 15.62 ... - Taiwan News

Spire Global Inc. Capella Space HawkEye 360. Astro Digital Inc. Loft Orbital Orbital Insight Satellogic SES S.A.. Thales Alenia Space. For an in ...

Feb 21,2025
The INFLECION project to address maritime safety and sustainability from space - SatNews

The European Space Agency (ESA) and AAC Clyde Space have jointly signed a contract for the first phase of satellite constellation project ...

Feb 21,2025
to Receive Overwhelming Hike In Revenue That Will Boost Overall Industry Growth by 2030

On the basis of satellite size, the small segment is projected to lead the global satellite bus market owing to higher CAGR.

Feb 21,2025
In Memoriam: Jeff Dozier | Mirage News

EOS is the largest project in the history of NASA and arguably the most ... satellite - marking the first time that such a small fire had ...

Feb 21,2025
Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) Lawsuit Over Alleged Misleading Statements Causes US ...

Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) saw a 7% increase in its stock ... DeepSeek and Trump's EOs: The Winners And Losers.

Feb 21,2025
In Memoriam: Pierre Morel | Mirage News

... satellite, a collaboration between the Centre National d'Études ... (EOS) in the mid-to-late 1990s. As an example, the Earth Observer article ...

Feb 21,2025
Total lunar eclipse is coming in March 2025: How to see it in the US - Victorville Daily Press

When the moon is imperfectly covered by Earth's shadow as our planet passes between our natural satellite ... umbra, completely blocking it from the sun ...

Feb 21,2025
SSA

Questions about Commercial Innovation Center (CIC)