The ESRF is a large-scale research infrastructure providing synchrotron X-ray light for cutting edge science for both academic and industrial user communities. It is located in Grenoble, France, with, as does SESAME, an intergovernmental agreement at its basis.

It is supported and shared by 21 countries.

The ESRF is one of the world's largest synchrotron science centres. Every year, more than 6,000 scientists from the partner countries and around the world travel to Grenoble to use its extremely brilliant X-rays for leading-edge research and industrial R&D.

The staff of the ESRF represents more than 40 nationalities from which the 600-strong staff contingent of highly qualified people mutually benefit from the rich and diverse backgrounds, cultures and languages.

The ESRF is established as a French Société civile and subject to French law. Its direction is the responsibility of the Director General and its Council, made up of representatives appointed by the Member Countries. Photon and Neutron Science Campus, with the neutron source Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and the Institut de Biologie Structural (IBS). Internationally, as a member of EIROforum, the ESRF works with institutions across Europe to support European research and to promote science education.

ESRF has a wide and long experience in a range of European funding programmes, both as coordinator and partner.