The ESS machine will generate at least an order of magnitude larger volumes of control system related data than typically existing in large industries. We realize that the high-level requirement of 95% availability for the facility will be very challenging and that the integrated control system will play a key role to reach this goal. For this reason, ESS initiated a control system machine learning (CSML) project in 2018, with the aim to build up a collaboration between research facilities, academia and industry. This presentation will cover the activities and technical outcome of first two years of this project, with lessons learned on how to efficiently collaborate to get technical results out of it.