November 6, 2019
Amazon Robotics announced today that they are opening a new robotic tech center in Westborough, MA, complete with corporate offices, research and development labs, and manufacturing space.
The center will open in 2021 and feature a 350,000 square foot facility. This facility will be in addition to their current facility in North Reading MA.
“We’re excited to grow our teams in Massachusetts and take advantage of the talent and regional connectivity that MetroWest offers,” said Tye Brady, Amazon Robotics’ Chief Technologist. “This will be a world-class facility, where our teams can design, build, program, and ship our robots, all under the same roof. This expansion will allow us to continue to innovate quickly and improve delivery speed for customers around the world.”
A Growing Robotics and Automation Hub
The Northeast is already a growing hub for robotics innovation and continues to attrack robotics and artificial intelligence startups. Amazon brings credibility to the region as a robotics leader and certainly one of the largest robotics corporations in the world (even if they primarily produce automation for internal consumption).
“Massachusetts is home to a nation-leading innovation economy with a highly educated and skilled workforce, and we are proud of the life-changing research and high quality of life that attracts leading companies to invest and grow here,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We are pleased that Amazon plans to increase their substantial presence with a state-of-the-art robotics facility, creating 200 new jobs and employing over 4,000 skilled workers throughout the Commonwealth, furthering its continued investment in the state’s economic growth and development.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Amazon Robotics Division to Westborough! The investment of this international company in our community demonstrates the ability of the regional economy and its workforce to attract innovation and technology. We look forward to a strong partnership with Amazon Robotics,” said Kristi Williams, Town Manager, Westborough.
Setting the bar higher
This announcement is significant because the investment by Amazon in their technology growth in the automation space, as well as the northeast region, is a positive sign for the future. Amazon has the advantage over most robotics competitors in that they can build systems designed for specific needs and then deploy and iterate on their innovation within their own warehouses.
This move also bolsters the competitiveness of the region in that it’s likely an automation technology center like this will spin out startups created by individuals who cut their teeth on the projects that they develop while at Amazon.
If you’re interested in a job at Amazon, then check out their job openings. Amazon provides highly competitive benefits to full-time employees. Amazon has also committed $700 million to programs aimed at providing its employees with the skills they need for new, in-demand jobs, from paid cloud computing apprenticeships to its Career Choice program, which pre-pays 95% of tuition for courses in in-demand fields, regardless of whether skills are relevant to a career at Amazon.
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