The German Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) is funding four interdisciplinary research consortia focused on developing new contraceptive methods – with a strong emphasis on non-hormonal approaches and male contraception. The consortia officially started their work on February 1, 2026, with funding secured through 2029.
“Strengthening women’s health is a priority of my ministry’s research funding – it’s a matter close to my heart,” said Federal Minister Dorothee Bär. “Many women today are critical of the pill because they want to avoid health impacts. And many men would like to take on more responsibility. We need new, modern contraceptives that are safe, have few side effects, and take all genders into account.”
Notably, three of the four funded projects are exploring non-hormonal contraceptive approaches, with two specifically targeting male contraception – an area that has historically seen minimal research investment despite strong consumer demand.
The Four Consortia
PREVENT (Frankfurt, Munich, Bonn | ~€3M) is building a drug development platform to identify and validate non-hormonal contraceptive targets for all genders, creating chemical tools that could serve as the foundation for future preclinical and clinical development.
Contraception.MS (Münster, Hamburg | ~€3M) is taking aim at ion channels found exclusively in sperm. Using cryo-electron microscopy and structure-based drug design, the team is developing highly selective inhibitors that block sperm function – with the potential for minimal side effects since these channels only exist in sperm cells.
ContraPur (Aachen, Münster, Bonn, Gießen, Munich | ~€2.8M) is investigating how ATP-driven contractions transport sperm within the testes, with the goal of temporarily and reversibly blocking this process to achieve male contraception without permanent effects on fertility.
CONtraCEPT (Heidelberg, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Jena | ~€2.8M) is the outlier in the group – rather than developing new drugs, this consortium is evaluating existing cycle-tracking apps and wearables for contraceptive reliability, while also researching new biomarkers (using proteomics and multiome sequencing of vaginal and oral cells) that could more precisely identify the fertile window.
Why It Matters
The funding comes at a time when demand for non-hormonal contraception is growing globally, and the gap in male contraceptive options remains one of the most persistent in reproductive health. While private investment in contraception innovation – particularly male contraception – has been picking up, government-backed research programs of this scale remain rare. Germany’s decision to fund this area through a competitive, internationally reviewed process signals a serious institutional commitment to diversifying the contraceptive landscape.
The initiative is part of the BMFTR’s broader push to strengthen women’s health research and gender-sensitive medicine in Germany, which also includes funding for five interdisciplinary centers for reproductive health and research into conditions like endometriosis.
