The European Spallation Source ERIC (ESS) is a multi-disciplinary research facility currently under construction in Lund, Sweden. Its Data Management and Software Centre (DMSC) is situated in Copenhagen, Denmark. Its 13 European contributor countries are partners in the construction and operation of the ESS. The ESS is scheduled to begin its scientific user program in 2027, when the construction phase is set to be completed. The ESS will enable scientists to observe and understand basic atomic structures and forces, which is currently unachievable with other neutron sources in terms of lengths and time scales. The research facility is located close to the MAX IV Laboratory, which conducts synchrotron radiation research. The construction of the facility began in the summer of 2014 and the first science results are planned for 2027.