The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the inadequacies of the world’s collective approach to data. The inability, and sometimes unwillingness, to share and use data to combat COVID-19 or to protect against predatory uses of data has negatively impacted individuals, private enterprise, citizens, research institutions and governments around the globe. A lack of trust combined with asymmetric economic interests are slowing progress on data sharing. This paper provides a clear overview of how to create the technology, commercial and policy frameworks required to ensure data sharing in future crises and some real-world examples of how they are currently being trialled and implemented globally.