Hormones are central regulators of human physiology, governing metabolism, immune function, cognition, and reproduction.
Despite the fact that hormone levels fluctuate continuously and in response to sleep, stress, nutrition, and reproductive state, hormone measurement relies currently on single time-point sampling and fails to capture these dynamics.
SPRIND is the German Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation that finances groundbreaking technologies and topics that have the potential to fundamentally improve our lives.
This limitation is particularly relevant in women’s health, where hormonal variability is higher and has been historically underrepresented in biomedical measurement.
Hormonal dysregulation is implicated in multiple disease areas, including preeclampsia, endometriosis, PCOS, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disorders, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and affective disorders.
The goal & challenge:
To develop a new generation of biosensors capable, for the first time, of enabling continuous hormone monitoring of 4 key hormones over multiple days – with sufficient sensitivity, stability, and direct measurement within a biological matrix. Every team must demonstrate that high-quality continuous hormone data within their specific application area in women’s health enables decisions that are structurally unattainable through single-point measurements.
Structure:
Stage 1: up to 8 teams, up to €1.5M each
Stage 2: up to 6 teams, up to €2.0M each
Stage 3: up to 4 teams, up to €2.5M each
Applications open for new innovation challenge programme
Teams interested in joining the new innovation challenge programme are invited to apply before the June 26 deadline.
Organisers will host an online Q&A webinar on June 1 at 5 p.m. CEST, where participants can learn more about the competition process and ask questions about the application requirements.
Before applying, teams are encouraged to review the participation agreement and prepare their project proposals.
Applications must be submitted by June 26 at 6 p.m. CEST. Shortlisted teams will then be invited to pitch their ideas in front of a jury on July 9 and 10.
Selected participants will receive funding and officially begin the programme on July 13.
If you know teams working in biosensing, endocrinology, or related areas in women’s health, share this opportunity with them!
Photo: Jano Costard, Head of Challenges
28.05.2026.
