Abstract
Research shows that people apart more than 30 meters communicate no more frequently than those separated by oceans. Technological support for globally distributed software engineering should therefore focus on: "Creating a virtual 30 meters". Creating such transparency among dislocated software engineers can be provided by specific development technology. Within the Merlin project research has been carried out between international industrial organizations and research institutions. The focus has been on the development and validation of solutions global distributed software engineering with different companies/partners on the same product. The workshop aims in defining engineer requirements for GDSE technology with a focus on the virtual 30 meters. To do so, first work done in the Merlin project is briefly presented. After that the participants work together to define the challenges and priorities for GDSE development technology. At the end of the workshop needs and requirements for GDSE will be available.