  In this work, a novel mechanism for spontaneous symmetry breaking is
presented. This mechanism avoids quadratic divergencies and is thus capable of
addressing the hierarchy problem in gauge theories. Using the scale-dependent
effective action $\Gamma_{k}$ minimally coupled to a gravitational sector,
variational parameter setting is applied. This provides a mass and vacuum
expectation value as a function of the constants arising in the low scale
expansion of Newtons' and cosmological couplings. A comparison with
experimental data, such as the Higgs mass, allows putting restrictions on these
constants. With this generic approach one can compare with explicit candidates
for an effective field theory of gravity. As an example, we use the asymptotic
safety scenario, where we find restrictions on the matter content of the
theory.
