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AI Funding: Public-Private Partnerships in Thailand

Accelerate Thailand's National AI Strategy targets with funding: public-private partnerships — leveraging BOI incentives and DEPA's OTOD initiative targeting 15,600 businesses by 2026.

Thailand's AI market is forecast to reach USD 1.16-1.84 billion in 2025-2026, growing at 26-35% annually, yet enterprise AI adoption stands at only 17-32% with 72% of businesses stuck on basic use cases. Thailand's National AI Strategy (2022-2027) targets elevating the country's AI Readiness Index to the top 50 globally, with a government commitment to upskill over 10 million Thais in AI by 2027. Government procurement follows the Government Procurement Act (B.E. 2560) with a 'two envelope' system, requiring technology transfer, training, and after-sales services in all proposals. A critical shortage of roughly 80,000 digital professionals constrains AI expansion, with 47% of businesses citing lack of digital skills as the main barrier and only 34% of employees having received digital skills training in the past year.

Duration8-16 weeks
InvestmentUSD $20,000 - $50,000
LocationThailand
$3.5 billion AI market by 2030
AI Market Size
24% annual growth in digital economy
Annual Growth
42% of workforce needs upskilling for digital economy
Workforce Upskilling Need

LOCAL CONTEXT

AI landscape in Thailand

Thailand's 4.0 initiative is driving the country's transition from a manufacturing-based to an innovation-driven economy. Government incentives through BOI and the Skills Development Fund are accelerating AI adoption, particularly in manufacturing, tourism, and financial services.

Market Size

$3.5 billion AI market by 2030

THE CHALLENGE

Sound familiar?

PDPA Compliance Uncertainty

National AI Strategy Implementation Gap

Government Procurement Complexity

Thai-Language and Cultural Training Gap

Underutilised Government Incentives

Our team has trained executives at globally-recognized brands

SAPUnileverHoneywellCenter for Creative LeadershipEY

FUNDING & SUBSIDIES

Government funding for AI training in Thailand

200% SME Digital Tax Deduction

200% deduction on qualifying digital expenses up to THB 300,000 (effective June 2025 - December 2027)

Qualifying AI training and digital services expenses can be claimed at 200% for tax purposes, effectively halving the net cost.

Official Source
BOI Investment Promotion (AI & Digital Technology)

Up to 13 years CIT exemption (up to 15 years with Competitiveness Enhancement Act); 100% foreign ownership permitted

Corporate income tax exemptions for companies investing in AI and digital technology activities, including training and implementation.

Official Source
Qualified Refundable Tax Credit (QRTC)

30-50% of qualifying expenditures; OECD Pillar Two compliant

Tax credits for R&D and advanced skills development expenditures, with unused credits refundable in cash — directly applicable to AI capability building.

Official Source

REGULATORY LANDSCAPE

Compliance considerations in Thailand

Thailand's PDPA (B.E. 2562), fully enforced since June 2022, governs all personal data processing with civil fines up to THB 5 million per violation and criminal penalties including imprisonment. In 2025, the PDPC levied THB 21.5 million in fines, extending enforcement to data processors. The draft AI Law (2025) introduces 'Prohibited-risk' (social scoring, subliminal manipulation) and 'High-risk' categories with strict governance duties, targeted for formalization in 2026.

CHALLENGES IN THAILAND

Why organizations in Thailand need ai funding: public-private partnerships

PDPA Compliance Uncertainty

Thailand's PDPA enforcement has escalated rapidly, with THB 21.5 million in fines across five cases in 2025 alone — now extending to data processors, not just controllers. Many organisations lack clarity on how AI systems handle personal data under these evolving requirements.

National AI Strategy Implementation Gap

Despite Thailand's ambitious AI Strategy targeting top-50 AI Readiness by 2027 and upskilling 10 million citizens, only 10% of organisations have reached transformative AI integration. Government agencies need practical capability-building to bridge this gap.

Government Procurement Complexity

Thai government procurement follows a decentralised 'two envelope' system across 200+ agencies, requiring technology transfer and training as standard proposal components. AI solutions must navigate this structure while demonstrating local capacity.

Thai-Language and Cultural Training Gap

Effective corporate AI training in Thailand requires a hybrid approach — delivering core concepts in English for multinational context, then debriefing in Thai for emotional connection and deep learning. Most international providers fail to adapt to Thai hierarchical communication norms and learner preferences for interactive, high-energy formats.

Underutilised Government Incentives

Many Thai SMEs are unaware of available AI funding — including DEPA grants up to THB 200,000, the 200% digital tax deduction (effective June 2025), and BOI tax holidays of up to 13 years. Without guidance, businesses miss significant cost offsets for AI training and implementation.

OUR PROCESS

How we deliver results

Step 1

Opportunity Mapping

We identify relevant government agencies, programs, and partnership models aligned with your AI objectives.

Step 2

Stakeholder Alignment

We facilitate discussions with government counterparts to align incentives, objectives, and expectations.

Step 3

Proposal Development

We develop comprehensive partnership proposals demonstrating mutual benefit and public interest alignment.

Step 4

Partnership Structuring

We design governance frameworks, funding mechanisms, and IP arrangements for the partnership.

Step 5

Execution Support

We provide ongoing advisory support through partnership negotiation, finalization, and initial execution.

IS THIS RIGHT FOR YOU?

Finding the right fit

This is ideal for you if...

Large enterprises with strategic AI initiatives

Industry associations and consortia

Organizations seeking multi-million dollar co-investment

Consider another option if...

Small organizations (<100 employees)

Organizations without established government relationships

Short-term or tactical projects

See yourself above? Let's talk about AI Funding: Public-Private Partnerships in Thailand.

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COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently asked

MORE FUNDING

Other Funding Solutions in Thailand

WHY PERTAMA PARTNERS

Our advantage in Thailand

Unlike local providers such as iApp Technology (focused on Thai-language AI products) or Data Wow (data labeling and ML development), Pertama delivers applied AI capability-building through structured training programmes with measurable business outcomes. While Accenture and Deloitte Thailand offer strategic advisory at premium price points, Pertama provides hands-on, practitioner-level training designed for mid-market organisations — with Southeast Asian delivery expertise across multiple ASEAN jurisdictions. The government-backed THAI Academy and Oracle-DEPA programmes offer foundational AI literacy, but lack the industry-specific, applied focus that Pertama's sector-tailored programmes deliver. Pertama bridges the gap between generic AI awareness and practical business transformation.

Local Delivery

Training is delivered using a hybrid English-Thai approach: core AI concepts and frameworks in English for international context, with Thai-language debriefing, discussion, and hands-on exercises for deep learning and emotional connection. Workshop design incorporates high-energy, interactive elements, games, and team competition to match Thai learner preferences — avoiding passive lecture formats that cause disengagement. Content respects Thai hierarchical management norms (kreng jai) with consensus-building exercises and indirect feedback mechanisms rather than confrontational case studies. Government delivery includes tailored proposal formats meeting Government Procurement Act requirements, with technology transfer and after-sales service documentation. Flexible delivery modes include on-site instructor-led training (ILT), live virtual (VILT), and blended formats. Bangkok-based delivery standard; regional delivery available.

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