Zinkworks and TUS Partner to Pioneer Generative AI for Open RAN Innovation 

Zinkworks is proud to announce a strategic research partnership with the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) to develop an innovative generative AI framework for Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) environments. 

The joint research initiative, titled CLARID (Control Loop Adaption of rApp Intelligent Deployments), aims to address the growing complexity faced by network operators as they transition to Open RAN architectures. By leveraging generative AI, CLARID will enable the autonomous creation, optimization, and deployment of intelligent applications, known as rApps and xApps, that integrate with RAN Intelligent Controllers (RIC) to deliver adaptive control and enhanced network performance. 

Open RAN technologies, championed by the O-RAN Alliance, are transforming telecom infrastructure by replacing proprietary systems with open interfaces. This shift unlocks previously inaccessible RAN data, fostering a vibrant ecosystem of third-party innovation.  

CLARID will build on this foundation by designing and implementing two key architectural frameworks: One, CLARID Reference Architecture (CRA), which defines external interfaces, layering, and subcomponents for adaptive app development. Two, CLARID Implementation Architecture (CIA), which operationalizes the CRA for real-world deployment.  

The project will also explore: 

• Intent Analysis and Automated App Generation: Using large language models (LLMs) to translate user intent into deployable rApps/xApps. 
• CLARID Data Tier (CDT): Facilitates automatic data acquisition, modeling, and performance-based adaptation. 
• CLARID Autonomic App Profiling Layer (CAAPL): Applies reinforcement learning to enhance app performance. 

“With the growing adoption of Open RAN, operators are facing unprecedented challenges in managing diverse and dynamic network configurations,” said James McNamara, VP of Solutions and Innovation at Zinkworks. “Our partnership with TUS represents a bold step toward solving these challenges through generative AI, enabling telecom networks to become more intelligent, adaptive, and autonomous.” 

“This collaboration with Zinkworks advances TUS’s research in how generative AI can be used to manage and automate Open Radio Access Networks” said Dr Sheila Fallon, Principal Investigator in TUS. “It illustrates the close engagement of the Enterprise Ireland supported Command Technology Gateway with industry partners in the Midlands and beyond to deliver impactful, future-focused innovation in telecommunications.”

The CLARID project is scheduled to run over an 18-month period, during which Zinkworks and TUS will collaborate closely to design, prototype, and evaluate the framework across multiple experimental strands. This timeline reflects the depth and ambition of the research, with milestones planned to deliver tangible advancements in generative AI for telecom automation. The COMAND Technology Gateway is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Southern, Eastern & Midland Regional Programme 2021-27. 

The project reinforces Zinkworks’ commitment to engineering excellence and AI enablement in telecoms, while highlighting the value of academic-industry collaboration in driving technological advancement. 

About TUS

Technological University of the Shannon is Ireland’s first cross-regional university and is home to more than 15,000 students across seven campuses in Athlone, Limerick, Thurles, Clonmel, and Ennis, all of which offer a lively and enjoyable student experience. TUS has a vibrant, innovative and contemporary research community that engages in next-generation thinking to tackle issues at a regional, national and global level.

About Zinkworks

Zinkworks partners with leading Telecommunications and Financial Services organizations to modernize legacy systems, migrate mission-critical platforms to the cloud, and engineer AI-driven automation. From OSS transformation to rApp development and network intelligence, our teams simplify complexity and turn it into competitive advantage. Based in Ireland and operating across the EU, UK, and US, Zinkworks combines deep domain expertise with delivery excellence to help clients modernize faster and operate smarter.

For more information about Zinkworks, visit: www.zinkworks.com or connect with us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/zinkworks/