The COVID-19 pandemic is the most severe health crisis in a century, exposing deep gaps in the world’s defences against epidemics and pandemics, and teaching us painful lessons. One of them is that in our intimately connected world, pathogens can spread around the world very quickly, demanding systems that can respond equally quickly. That includes systems to facilitate the rapid exchange of biological materials and related data, to support the development of guidance and medical countermeasures including vaccines, tests and treatments. Based on the lessons that COVID-19 was teaching us, World Health Organization announced the establishment of the WHO BioHub System at the height of the pandemic, in January 2021. Developed collaboratively and iteratiely with the active engagement of Member States and other partners, the BioHub System has now been through a pilot-testing phase that has demonstrated its value as a multilateral model and a tangible asset that Member States can harness to bolster their preparedness against emergent viral threats.