This week I went to see Professor Simon Wakeman at the European School of Management and Technology (ESMT) in Berlin. Simon is an expert in the licensing of Intellectual Property (IP) internationally.

I really like Berlin, and visit it quite often with students of Architecture and Planning at the University of the West of England, Bristol where I teach. Other than ModCell, I have two other day jobs, teaching a day week at UWE and in an architectural practice called White Design.

This trip was interesting in more ways than one. Meeting with Simon Wakemen, obviously, but I also had the chance to meet up with Mathew Holloway of Artica, one of the other shortlisted finalists. Mathew was also going to meet up with a mentor at the ESMT. We managed to get some time talking about each others work as we walked to the ESMT building. Mathew's low energy heat exchanging system looks really innovative.

The ESMT building turned out to be the former East German government's Berlin headquarters and has been completely restored to its former glory. The entrance foyer is clearly set up to be just a little intimidating, not by the ESMT of course, but by the former administration. It is a double height space and about the size of 3 tennis courts, and it's a very long walk to the reception desk!

I met up with Simon Wakeman in the ESMT library and we talked through the ModCell System in general terms and then got in to the detail of IP, patents and assignments of license. It was great to have someone of Simon's experience and knowledge suggest how we might set up the licensing internationally. The important thing to remember is to ensure your IP is protected both going into and, just as importantly, coming out of any licensing agreement. At the same time, the license should allow enough flexibility for all parties to succeed commercially. You need a clear vision, a good business plan, a viable product, good partners and good lawyers. At the end of our session I came away a whole lot clearer on how we might go about licensing. We have had enquiries from around the world, asking whether they can license the ModCell and BaleHaus system. I'm a lot more confident about how we can start the discussions to set these up.

Before heading home the CNBC Director, Bernadine Lim, revealed what the final part of the Good Entrepreneur journey will be. I'm going to Sweden to meet with Dennis Jönsson, CEO of Tetra Pak! It's turning out to be quite a journey.