During this roundtable about industrial applications for complex, yet scalable in vitro models for drug discovery, we discussed the importance of balancing experimental complexity and scalability, and how thoughtful engineering can ensure successful translation from academia to industry. Our panelists explored key topics, such as: Why are biological complexity and experimental scalability both essential for producing meaningful and robust datasets? What are the trade-offs between complexity and scalability? In which stages of research and development are scalability most critical? How does scalability of complex systems influence drug development? What are the next steps to ensure translatability of complex model systems?