Milan’s defense industry can best be characterized by its entrepreneurial ecosystem. While not quite considered a major manufacturing centre in Italy, the city succeeds in fostering innovation through its wonderful conditions for startups in the defense to take root and prosper. One such example is TECH4BYTE, which is spearheading the development of drone technologies. Drones possess a certain amount of flexibility in their use, and what this startup does is to prioritize safety and efficiency. By harnessing the Coanda principle, the company aims to eliminate all exposed moving parts in drones and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). This groundbreaking approach involves creating a structure that removes propellers from the external environment, enhancing safety and stability. Notably, this innovation is expected to reduce energy consumption by over 14 times. Within the growing movement of sustainability in the defense sector, it’s a significant achievement. Another company that’s generating traction in Milan’s defense industry is Leaf Space. Its mission is simple – space access for microsatellite operators. The company is building a next-gen Ground Station Network dedicated to Nano, Micro and Small satellites. Leaf Space’s competitive edge comes from its Ground Segment Service. The company strategically distributes its proprietary infrastructure to cover large territories, which uses a cloud-powered brain, known as the Network Cloud Engine (NCE). This engine not only ensures power for the infrastructure but also takes control, orchestrating the entire activity of the Ground Station Network in an autonomous manner. The NCE handles complex operations that eliminate the need for direct management of each Ground Station. One of Leaf Space's key services, Leaf Line, introduces the concept of a fully managed multi-mission Ground Segment as a Service (GSaaS) solution. You can call it the future of satellite communication as it delivers high flexibility, fast service delivery, frequent daily contacts and low latency. A strong package that appeals to operators due to its competitive pricing.