Dr Simona Soare

Dr Simona R. Soare specialises in software-defined defence, digital transformation of defence, defence innovation, the adoption and applications of emerging technologies in defence capabilities, and the future of war. Simona is Professor of Strategy and Technology in the Department for Politics, Philosophy and Religion at Lancaster University. At Lancaster, Simona leads multi-year research on AI safety and human-AI teaming in security and defence. Dr Soare is also the co-chair of the NATO Science and Technology Organisation panels on AI Adoption and Defence Interoperability and AI Safety and Assurance in Defence respectively and the co-chair of the NATO STO Lecture Series on AI Adoption for Enhanced Defence Interoperability.

Prior to her current role, Simona was research fellow for defence and military analysis with IISS, senior associate analyst for transatlantic defence and EU-NATO cooperation with the EUISS, senior security and defence advisor to the Vice-President of the European Parliament, and defence analyst with the Ministry of Defence. Simona holds a PhD in International Security (2011), and she is a non-resident senior associate fellow with the NATO Defence College in Rome. Simona was also a US Department of State Fellow and a Denton Fellow.

Her latest publications include:

Simona R. Soare, Software-Defined Defence: Algorithms at war(IISS, London, February 2023);

Simona R. Soare, Digitalisation of Defence in NATO and the EU: Making European Defence Fit for the Digital Age (IISS, London, August 2023);

Simona R. Soare and Fabrice Pothier, Leading edge: Key drivers of defence innovation and the future of operational advantage (IISS, London, November 2021);

Simona R. Soare, J. Burton, and R. Steff (eds), Emerging technologies and international security: the man, machines, and war (London, Routledge, December 2020);

Simona R. Soare European Military AI: Why Regional Approaches are Lagging Behind (Routledge, London, March 2023);

Simona R. Soare Algorithmic power? The role of artificial intelligence in European strategic autonomy (Routledge, London, May 2023);

Simona R. Soare (ed), Turning the Tide: How to rescue transatlantic relations (EUISS, Paris, October 2020).