Amazon is launching its second research centre in Cambridge and will hire over 400 employees to deliver innovations across its drone and Echo devices.

The etail giant has unveiled plans to open a 60,000 sq ft development centre in the city this autum, with new employees specialising in machine learning, speech science and software engineering.

The online retailer is bolstering its research and development arm to deliver innovations across its existing devices, including Kindle and Alexa.

Employees at Amazon’s existing research centre will focus on its drone delivery programme, entitled Prime Air.

‘Global innovation’

The online retailer plans to create a total of 5,000 new jobs in the UK this year.

UK managing director Doug Gurr said: “We are constantly inventing on behalf of our customers, and our development centres in Cambridge, Edinburgh and London play a major role in Amazon’s global innovation.

“By the end of this year, we will have more than 1,500 innovation-related roles here in Britain, working on everything from machine learning and drone technology to streaming video technology and Amazon Web Services.”

Minister of state for digital and culture Matt Hancock added: “Amazon’s increased investment in developing cutting-edge technology in Cambridge is another vote of confidence in the UK as a world-leading centre of invention and innovation.”