The next generation of entrepreneurs, startups, leaders and developers are the innovators behind the emerging technologies making history in our digital era. To inspire and engage with them, Cisco launched theInnovation Grand Challenge, focused on finding fresh and exciting market opportunities  and game-changing trends.

During last year's competition, dozens of teams competed for a share of$250,000 to jumpstart their ventures.  Awarded at the Internet of Things World Forum in Dubai, winners also received access to Cisco mentors, resources, as well as potential partners and funding opportunities.

John Chambers, Executive Chairman of the Board at Cisco, inspects a Green City Solutions CityTree on display at Viva Technology.

We are currently holding the2016 Grand Innovation Challenge. We thought you'd enjoy a look back at how the winners from the last challenge are disrupting industries impact the world. First up of a three-part "Innovation Grand Challenge: Where Are They Now" series, is Zhengliang Wu, CIO ofGreen City Solutions.

Green City Solutions has been quite busy since being named a winner in the Innovation Grand Challenge. In fact, just last week, they were busy atViva TechnologyParis, an international start-up event. There everyone got to see Green City Solutions deploy its first "city tree" in Paris. As you see from the pictures, Green City Solutions has a great deal of interest around its deployment; certainly the mark of a truly unique idea. I'll share some other pictures as well, but rather than keep you waiting, let's hear from Green City: 

Q: Zhengliang, thanks for taking time to speak with us! Please provide a bit of background on your experience and how it helped to start your company's journey with the Cisco Grand Innovation challenge?

A: I've always been intrigued by DIY hacking projects, maker fairs and open source software and hardware. All of this gives people an easy way to build things on their own, educate themselves and help them approach problems differently. That's why I am also a big fan of using design thinking to compliment an approach to finding a solution.

As far as my education, I studied media informatics in Germany and started out as freelance web designer. When Green City Solutions was founded, I shifted my focus to augmented reality first and then to IoT.

Q: How did the Cisco Innovation Grand Challenge come across your team's radar?

A:Our Senior Manager of business development was conducting research on IoT market opportunities and discovered the Internet of Things World Forum and the Innovation Global Challenge in Dubai. We thought it was a long shot, but tried our luck, and here we are a year later.

The CityTree currently has the air cleaning power of 275 trees.

Q: We know that Green City Solutions' innovation lies in helping cities clean their polluted air. Why did your team focus on solving such a massive problem?

A: Air pollution is a global threat that causes millions of deaths. It's a problem we have to start applying real solutions to.

Every day, 90 percent of cities' inhabitants breathe polluted air, which is the cause of every seventh death worldwide. The major components of air pollution are nitrogen oxides, ozone and especially fine dust (PM),  which 10