The BOI treats a number of science and technology parks in Thailand as investment promotion zones. A BOI-promoted company that carries out an eligible research or technology activity inside one of these parks can receive incentives on top of its standard BOI benefits: either 2 additional years of corporate income tax exemption, or a 50% reduction of corporate income tax for 5 years after the exemption period, depending on the activity. The measure is set by BOI Announcement No. 22/2565 and has applied since 3 January 2023. It only covers a defined list of activities, so a location in a park is not enough on its own.
Last updated: October 2026
Why science parks have their own status
Industrial estates, such as those managed by the IEAT, are designed for manufacturing. Science and technology parks target a different kind of project: research and development, technology development, design, testing and the services that support them, usually close to a university or a public research institute.
The stated aim of the BOI measure is to support investment in technology and innovation and to encourage cooperation between companies, universities and research institutes. The extra incentive is attached to the activity carried out in the park, not to the address. For manufacturing projects, see our guide to choosing an IEAT industrial estate.
The parks recognised by the BOI
The BOI lists the following areas under its science and technology park measure:
- Thailand Science Park and the regional science parks: Thailand Science Park in Pathum Thani, and the Northern (Chiang Mai), Northeastern (Khon Kaen) and Southern (Songkhla) science parks, each hosted by a regional university.
- Space Krenovation Park (SKP): in Si Racha, Chonburi, developed by GISTDA, Thailand’s space and geo-informatics agency, as a hub for space-related research and business.
- Food Innopolis: a network of food innovation sites in Thailand Science Park and in university buildings across the country, including in Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Songkhla, Phitsanulok, Phichit, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Ubon Ratchathani.
- Asian Institute of Technology (AIT): the AIT campus in Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, about 535 rai.
- Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR): its building for technology transfer to SMEs, also in Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani.
The BOI also presents the Yothi Medical Innovation District in central Bangkok, led by the National Innovation Agency (NIA), alongside these parks. It was approved as an investment promotion zone in December 2021 with its own conditions, described below.
The network is not concentrated in Bangkok. The regional science parks and the Food Innopolis sites allow a research project to be based in the North, the Northeast or the South while keeping the same incentives, with a local university as partner.
Eligible activities
The additional incentives only apply to the activities listed in Announcement No. 22/2565, carried out in one of the approved parks. They fall into two groups:
| Group | Activities | Additional incentive |
|---|---|---|
| Targeted technology development | Biotechnology development, nanotechnology development, advanced materials technology development | 2 additional years of corporate income tax exemption |
| General targeted technology | Biotechnology, electronic design, research and development, engineering design, scientific laboratories, calibration services, vocational training centres | 50% reduction of corporate income tax for 5 years after the exemption period ends |
In Food Innopolis sites, two further activities are eligible for the second group: plant or animal breeding (when not already covered as biotechnology), and creative product design and development.
Each activity must first be eligible for BOI promotion in its own right, under the conditions of the BOI’s list of activities. The park incentive then comes on top of the standard incentives of that activity.
How the incentives combine
A promoted project located in an approved park receives:
- the standard incentives of its BOI activity, including the corporate income tax exemption for its group (from A4 to A1+), which can reach up to 13 years in total for the most strategic activities, and
- the park incentive for its activity group: 2 extra years of exemption, or a 50% tax reduction for 5 years after the exemption ends.
There is one important limit: a project whose total corporate income tax exemption exceeds 8 years cannot also receive the 50% reduction. Projects with very long tax holidays should therefore check which incentive they will actually get before choosing a park for tax reasons.
For the Yothi Medical Innovation District, the BOI announced in December 2021 a 50% reduction of corporate income tax for 5 additional years for investments in targeted fields such as deep tech, telemedicine and precision medicine, on condition that the company works with the educational or research institutions in the district.
For the general BOI framework, activity groups and merit-based incentives, see our complete guide to BOI promotion. Projects in the Eastern Economic Corridor, including the EECi innovation zone, fall under separate EEC incentives: see our guide to the Eastern Economic Corridor.
Which projects should consider a science park
A science park is worth considering when the project’s core activity is on the eligible list: a biotech or advanced materials developer, an electronic design centre, a corporate R&D unit, an engineering design office, a testing or calibration laboratory, or a food innovation project working with a university.
Other technology projects, such as artificial intelligence, semiconductor manufacturing or electric vehicle production, are not covered as such by the park measure. They may still qualify for strong incentives under their own BOI activity or under other measures, but a park address alone will not add to them. A standard manufacturing or trading project with no eligible R&D activity is generally better served by an industrial estate and a classic BOI application.
How to proceed
Setting up in a science park involves two separate procedures, best handled in parallel:
- The space: contact the park’s management (the university, NSTDA for Thailand Science Park, GISTDA, AIT or TISTR) to rent office, laboratory or pilot plant space and agree on any cooperation.
- The BOI application: file a standard BOI application through the e-Investment system for the eligible activity, stating the location in the approved park so that the additional incentive is granted.
Before committing to a lease, check that your planned activity matches one of the eligible activities and that your total tax holiday will not exceed 8 years if you are counting on the 50% reduction.
Key takeaways
- BOI Announcement No. 22/2565, in force since 3 January 2023, treats approved science and technology parks as investment promotion zones.
- Approved parks include Thailand Science Park and the regional science parks in Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen and Songkhla, Space Krenovation Park in Chonburi, the Food Innopolis network, AIT and TISTR. The Yothi Medical Innovation District in Bangkok has its own conditions.
- Targeted technology development (biotech, nanotech, advanced materials) receives 2 additional years of corporate income tax exemption.
- General targeted technology activities (R&D, electronic and engineering design, laboratories, calibration, vocational training, biotech) receive a 50% tax reduction for 5 years after the exemption.
- Projects with more than 8 years of total exemption cannot also get the 50% reduction.
- The incentive depends on the activity, not the address: AI, semiconductor or EV manufacturing projects are not covered as such.
Frequently asked questions
Which science and technology parks are recognised by the BOI?
Thailand Science Park in Pathum Thani, the regional science parks in Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen and Songkhla, Space Krenovation Park in Chonburi, the Food Innopolis network of university sites, the AIT campus and TISTR’s technology transfer building in Pathum Thani. The BOI also lists the Yothi Medical Innovation District in Bangkok, under its own conditions.
What tax benefit does a science park bring?
It depends on the activity. Biotechnology, nanotechnology and advanced materials development receive 2 additional years of corporate income tax exemption. Other eligible activities, such as R&D, electronic design or scientific laboratories, receive a 50% reduction of corporate income tax for 5 years after the exemption period.
Does any company located in a science park get these incentives?
No. The project must be BOI-promoted and its activity must be on the list of eligible activities in Announcement No. 22/2565. A company in a park with a non-eligible activity only receives the standard incentives of its BOI activity, if any.
Are all these parks located in Bangkok?
No. Most are in Pathum Thani, and there are science parks in Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen and Songkhla, a space park in Chonburi and Food Innopolis sites in several provinces.
Can the park incentive be combined with standard BOI incentives?
Yes, it is added to the standard incentives of the promoted activity. The 50% reduction is not available, however, to projects whose total corporate income tax exemption exceeds 8 years.
What is Food Innopolis?
A national food innovation network based at Thailand Science Park and in university facilities across the country. In addition to the general eligible activities, it covers plant and animal breeding and creative product design and development.
Is a science park a good choice for a standard factory?
Generally not. Without an eligible R&D or technology activity, a factory does not gain anything from the park measure, and an industrial estate is usually better suited to production.
Conclusion
Thailand’s science and technology parks offer a real tax advantage to companies whose activity is research, technology development, design or testing, with sites well beyond Bangkok and direct access to universities and research institutes. The benefit is tied to a precise list of activities and to the project’s overall tax holiday, so eligibility should be checked before choosing a site.
Our team helps technology and R&D investors assess their eligibility, choose the right location and prepare their BOI application. Contact us to discuss your project.
