The value of open data in innovation is very difficult to quantify, as academic research often takes many years before it reaches its full potential of becoming an invention and being produced at an industrial scale. The efforts of the public and private sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic allowed for the rapid discovery of vaccines and other products. For this study, we used quantitative (number of patents and publications) and qualitative (interviews) data to understand the impact of COVID-19 open resources on the operations of the private sector. More than 1,000 patents reference at least one of the COVID-19 Data Portal resources, and 30% of these are affiliated with a for-profit company, showcasing the importance and successful integration of open resources in the industry sector. The study also examined the most cited patents affiliated with industry, as well as identified scientific publications that reference the COVID-19 Data Portal, confirming the awareness of the open resource not only by the public sector but also by industry. Lastly, interviews were conducted to understand the impact of the pandemic on the business operations of seven life science companies, high adaptability and further usage of COVID-related products and services beyond the pandemic. Additionally, ten interviews were conducted with Research Infrastructures, highlighting the importance of time, cost, and efficiency of infrastructures’ adaptability to ensure proper industry engagement during crisis calls. Overall, this study provides evidence of the importance of open data and services during the pandemic and underscores the need for preparedness, bridging the gap between public and private sectors, and continuously assessing the impact of infrastructures on innovation.