Data governance is crucial in biotechnology for several reasons. Firstly, it ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, such as HIPAA in the United States and GDPR in the European Union, which mandate strict controls over personal and sensitive data. Secondly, it enhances data quality and reliability, which are critical for making informed decisions and driving innovation. Lastly, data governance minimizes the risk of data breaches and the misuse of sensitive information, which could have severe ethical and financial implications.