This paper was presented at the 1-2 October, 2009 Conference of the Centre International de Recherches et d'Information sur l'Economie Publique, Sociale et Coopérative (CIRIEC) in Östersund, Sweden. It was subsequently translated into Spanish. ; Spanish translation of an original paper in English. Trans-disciplinary thinking by evolutionary, social, and ecological economists from the mid-1970s pointed to a new paradigm from which working models are emerging. This paper illustrates their relevance to a context where the vulnerability of communities to the intertwined issues of carbon, energy, food, finance, and disparity is mounting. The strategic role of co-operative, complementary innovation in navigating these challenges is elaborated. ; BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) ; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)