More than 20 companies are aggressively bidding to become the first batch listed on the soon-to-be-launched Growth Enterprise Market (GEM), according to market sources.
They said the GEM aimed to launch a number of high-technology companies with multi-billion-dollar market capitalisations.
Among these a number are said to be well advanced in preparing their listing applications.
Some have already sent documentation to the stock exchange, while others would be submitted by the end of the month, sources said.
The exchange opened for GEM application submissions two weeks ago after it officially announced the sponsors list.
Among the biggest applicants is United States-based Kistler Aerospace, which makes reusable satellite delivery vehicles.