News&Events

Thales participated at InnoTrans 2018 exhibition in Berlin with a revolutionary booth allowing visitors to imagine what the future looks like and to actually be part of it.

Pepper, the robot, was awarded the most popular host, charismatically introducing Lite4ce, the new fibre optical technology which enables sensors on the rail to safely detect a variety of parameters, such as quality of the wheels, the speed and weight of vehicles as well as the number of passengers in each wagon.
Thales Group, No. 1 worldwide in driverless metro signalling and No. 1 worldwide in communication systems for rail networks, has embarked on digitalizing railway transportation, paving the way for autonomous railway operations. With the autonomous trains, Thales gives eyes to trains – advanced sensors that give the train a full perception of its environment. And then, Thales combines it with artificial intelligence – the train’s brain – to allow them to run on the network in full autonomy.

Inside the Experience Room, searching for solutions to overcome obstacles at decisive moments, from network disruption to rail digitalization

Supporting Europe for Creators

Via Europe for Creators

Links Associates was engaged as part of a major European effort to implement the communication and government relations strategy of the European Author’s Societies (GESAC) for Romania. The campaign was designed to convince members of the EU Parliament and the public opinion of the need to reform the copyright laws. The key point of the campaign was identifying influencers that would promote the message. Our team worked with people from diverse backgrounds – artists, IT specialists, journalists – visible and followed in the mainstream media, online and offline. Together we spread the message on TV, on radio, in the newspapers and on social media. The final vote held on September 12th, 2018 was a testament to the successful nature of this campaign.

Telling Fincantieri’s story in Romania

You have to see in order to believe. To see what it means to build a ship ready for a memorable cruise or a ship ready to defend us when needed. That’s why we went to visit Fincantieri’s shipyards in Italy and, of course, in Romania – in Braila and Tulcea.

Four shipyards, four great experiences for a group of journalists interested and curious to see “how is made”. In Italy they were speechless when arriving right under the hull of a frigate that was under construction in Riva Trigoso shipyard. In Muggiano shipyard, we witnessed together the launching ceremony of the LSS Vulcano, an impressive military ship built for the Italian Navy.

In Romania, we were proud to see two shipyards working at full capacity. Fincantieri owns Vard Tulcea and Vard Braila where various kinds of vessels are built, cruise and expedition ships included.

We looked astonished how the Goliath crane can move around huge ship sections – carefully and with maximum precision. This crane is the giant of the yard keeping an eye on everything and everybody. The name says it all: it’s Goliath!

Every smile counts!

There’s no argue that smiling is an important part of our everyday life and that it has the magnificent power to instantly generate more positive emotions around us. That’s why we often feel happier around children - because they smile a lot. But children’s smile is also the most vulnerable. Orbit understood the importance of smiles for a happy childhood and decided to make the kids smile more.

So this year we helped Orbit to help the children from SOS Children’s Village Romania. A healthy smile is the first important step to self-confidence. This was the message we spread around together with Orbit.

Brands take a stand

Today more than ever, consumers are putting their faith in brands to stand for something, to do the right thing, to help solve societal and political problems. Whether people are shopping for soap or shoes, they’re weighing a brand’s principles as much as its products. Opting out of taking a stand is no longer an option for brands.
The 2018 Edelman Earned Brand study reveals that nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of consumers around the world now buy on belief, a remarkable increase of 13 points since 2017. These Belief-Driven Buyers will choose, switch, avoid or boycott a brand based on where it stands on the political or social issues they care about.

The belief-driven mindset has gone mainstream. Belief-Driven Buyers are now the majority in every market surveyed, across all age groups and all income levels. Almost as many consumers aged 35-to-54 buy on belief as 18-to-34-year-olds, and the most impressive gains come from the older cohort, with an 18-point increase among people 55 years old and up. A brand’s stand drives both purchase intent and advocacy. Showcasing a brand’s principles or its products inspires purchase equally. Buyers are just as likely to express purchase intent after viewing a communication focused on a brand’s stand as they are after viewing a product-focused communication. And a communication focused on a brand’s stand has an even greater effect on a consumer’s intent to advocate for the brand than one focused on product features.
A brand’s stand matters at every consumer interaction. Reminding consumers of the brand’s stand when they are about to buy is crucial: 60 percent say brands should make it easier to see its values and its position on important issues at the point of sale.
Read the full report here.