The COVID-19 pandemic is an unparalleled global crisis that has led to a surge in innovative responses. Central to this innovation landscape was the emergence of open-source projects that offered rapid, collaborative solutions, complementing scientifically led endeavors. This paper undertakes a comprehensive exploration of open-source innovations during the pandemic, chronicling their instigation, impact, and broader implications for research and development (R&D) paradigms. Utilizing a meticulously curated database of open-source COVID-19 innovations, we compared these projects with scientifically led initiatives and derived insights into their respective strengths, challenges, and contributions. Our findings underscore the transformative potential of collaborative research models, emphasizing the synergies between open source and scientific approaches. Furthermore, we delineate the broader implications of these findings for future R&D landscapes, highlighting the pivotal roles of community engagement, adaptability, and interdisciplinary collaboration. This study offers a holistic understanding of innovation dynamics during global crises, serving as a guide for future research endeavors and policy formulations.