Thailand has approved 42 data centre projects valued at 750 billion baht over 2024–2026, but policymakers are implementing stricter screening criteria to ensure long-term national benefit beyond mere investment volume. The Board of Investment (BOI) is shifting from measuring projects by capital expenditure to assessing quality metrics: job creation, technology transfer, SME integration, green energy use, and R&D capacity. This reflects a strategic pivot treating data centres as critical infrastructure (like power grids) rather than pure real estate, with electricity supply and water security as binding constraints.