diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index b05271de..0ec22446 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -166,8 +166,8 @@ jobs:
         if [ ${{ matrix.compiler }} = ICPX ]; then
           source /opt/intel/oneapi/setvars.sh
         fi
-        export PYTHONPATH=${PYTHONPATH}:${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/bin
-        export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=${LD_LIBRARY_PATH}:${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/bin
+        export PYTHONPATH=${PYTHONPATH}:${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/libs
+        export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=${LD_LIBRARY_PATH}:${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/libs
         cd tests
         # TODO delete build dir to make sure the linking etc works correctly?
         python run_python_tests.py
@@ -177,8 +177,8 @@ jobs:
         if [ ${{ matrix.compiler }} = ICPX ]; then
           source /opt/intel/oneapi/setvars.sh
         fi
-        export PYTHONPATH=${PYTHONPATH}:${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/bin
-        export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=${LD_LIBRARY_PATH}:${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/bin
+        export PYTHONPATH=${PYTHONPATH}:${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/libs
+        export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=${LD_LIBRARY_PATH}:${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/libs
         cd tests
         #TODO run the tests...
         # TODO delete build dir to make sure the linking etc works correctly?
@@ -237,8 +237,8 @@ jobs:
 
     - name: Running tests
       run: |
-        export PYTHONPATH=${PYTHONPATH}:${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/bin
-        export DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH=${DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH}:${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/bin
+        export PYTHONPATH=${PYTHONPATH}:${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/libs
+        export DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH=${DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH}:${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/libs
         cd tests
         # TODO delete build dir to make sure the linking etc works correctly?
         python run_python_tests.py
@@ -335,6 +335,10 @@ jobs:
       shell: cmd
       run: |
         set PYTHONPATH=%PYTHONPATH%;%GITHUB_WORKSPACE%/bin
+
+        @REM show what's on your PYTHONPATH
+        dir %GITHUB_WORKSPACE%/bin
+
         cd tests
         rem TODO delete build dir to make sure the linking etc works correctly?
         python run_python_tests.py
@@ -369,8 +373,8 @@ jobs:
 
     - name: Running tests (Python)
       run: |
-        export PYTHONPATH=${PYTHONPATH}:${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/bin
-        export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=${LD_LIBRARY_PATH}:${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/bin
+        export PYTHONPATH=${PYTHONPATH}:${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/libs
+        export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=${LD_LIBRARY_PATH}:${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/libs
         cd tests
         # TODO delete build dir to make sure the linking etc works correctly? (Needs to be done after running CTests)
         python3.8 run_python_tests.py
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 427c1811..4de8067b 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -138,7 +138,11 @@ include(GenerateExportHeader)
 generate_export_header( co_sim_io EXPORT_MACRO_NAME CO_SIM_IO_API EXPORT_FILE_NAME
                         ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/co_sim_io/includes/co_sim_io_api.hpp )
 
-install(TARGETS co_sim_io DESTINATION bin)
+install(TARGETS co_sim_io
+        LIBRARY DESTINATION libs
+        ARCHIVE DESTINATION libs
+        RUNTIME DESTINATION bin
+        INCLUDES DESTINATION include)
 
 if (CO_SIM_IO_BUILD_MPI)
     # optionally enable communication via MPI
@@ -157,7 +161,11 @@ if (CO_SIM_IO_BUILD_MPI)
 
     target_link_libraries(co_sim_io_mpi co_sim_io ${MPI_LIBRARIES})
 
-    install(TARGETS co_sim_io_mpi DESTINATION bin)
+    install(TARGETS co_sim_io_mpi
+            LIBRARY DESTINATION libs
+            ARCHIVE DESTINATION libs
+            RUNTIME DESTINATION bin
+            INCLUDES DESTINATION include)
 endif()
 
 target_include_directories(co_sim_io PUBLIC ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/co_sim_io)
diff --git a/co_sim_io/c/CMakeLists.txt b/co_sim_io/c/CMakeLists.txt
index 557ddfca..9cfe281a 100644
--- a/co_sim_io/c/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/co_sim_io/c/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -12,12 +12,20 @@ set_target_properties(co_sim_io_c PROPERTIES WINDOWS_EXPORT_ALL_SYMBOLS ON)
 
 target_link_libraries( co_sim_io_c co_sim_io )
 
-install(TARGETS co_sim_io_c DESTINATION bin)
+install(TARGETS co_sim_io_c
+        LIBRARY DESTINATION libs
+        ARCHIVE DESTINATION libs
+        RUNTIME DESTINATION bin
+        INCLUDES DESTINATION include)
 
 if (CO_SIM_IO_BUILD_MPI)
     add_library (co_sim_io_c_mpi SHARED co_sim_io_c_mpi.cpp)
 
     target_link_libraries(co_sim_io_c_mpi co_sim_io_c co_sim_io_mpi)
 
-    install(TARGETS co_sim_io_c_mpi DESTINATION bin)
+    install(TARGETS co_sim_io_c_mpi
+            LIBRARY DESTINATION libs
+            ARCHIVE DESTINATION libs
+            RUNTIME DESTINATION bin
+            INCLUDES DESTINATION include)
 endif()
diff --git a/co_sim_io/fortran/CMakeLists.txt b/co_sim_io/fortran/CMakeLists.txt
index 2998f061..76a5cba1 100644
--- a/co_sim_io/fortran/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/co_sim_io/fortran/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -6,4 +6,8 @@ add_library (co_sim_io_fortran SHARED co_sim_io.f90)
 
 target_link_libraries( co_sim_io_fortran co_sim_io_c )
 
-install(TARGETS co_sim_io_fortran DESTINATION bin)
+install(TARGETS co_sim_io_fortran
+        LIBRARY DESTINATION libs
+        ARCHIVE DESTINATION libs
+        RUNTIME DESTINATION bin
+        INCLUDES DESTINATION include)
diff --git a/co_sim_io/python/CMakeLists.txt b/co_sim_io/python/CMakeLists.txt
index 021465d6..ab133165 100644
--- a/co_sim_io/python/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/co_sim_io/python/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -7,31 +7,52 @@ pybind11_add_module(PyCoSimIO co_sim_io_python.cpp)
 
 target_link_libraries( PyCoSimIO PRIVATE co_sim_io )
 
-install(TARGETS PyCoSimIO DESTINATION bin)
-file(WRITE "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/bin/CoSimIO/__init__.py" "from PyCoSimIO import *\nfrom PyCoSimIO import __version__\n")
+if (WIN32)
+    set(CoSimIOPythonModuleRelativeDir "bin/CoSimIO")
+else()
+    set(CoSimIOPythonModuleRelativeDir "libs/CoSimIO")
+endif()
+set(CoSimIOPythonModuleDir "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/${CoSimIOPythonModuleRelativeDir}")
+
+install(TARGETS PyCoSimIO
+        LIBRARY DESTINATION libs
+        ARCHIVE DESTINATION libs
+        RUNTIME DESTINATION bin)
+set_target_properties(PyCoSimIO PROPERTIES INSTALL_RPATH "$ORIGIN")
+
+set(CoSimIOInitFile "${CoSimIOPythonModuleDir}/__init__.py")
+set(CoSimIOMPIInitFile "${CoSimIOPythonModuleDir}/mpi/__init__.py")
+set(mpi4pyInterfaceInitFile "${CoSimIOPythonModuleDir}/mpi/mpi4pyInterface/__init__.py")
 
-set(CoSimIOMPIInitFile "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/bin/CoSimIO/mpi/__init__.py")
-set(mpi4pyInterfaceInitFile "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/bin/CoSimIO/mpi/mpi4pyInterface/__init__.py")
+file(WRITE "${CoSimIOInitFile}" "from PyCoSimIO import *\nfrom PyCoSimIO import __version__\n")
 
 # dummy init files that give proper errors in case something related to MPI was not compiled
 # These files will be overwritten if the corresponding option is enabled, hence here we can write then unconditionally
-file(WRITE ${CoSimIOMPIInitFile} "raise Exception('CoSimIO was compiled without MPI support! (use \"CO_SIM_IO_BUILD_MPI\" to enable it)')\n")
-file(WRITE ${mpi4pyInterfaceInitFile} "raise Exception('The mpi4py interface was not compiled! (use \"CO_SIM_IO_BUILD_PYTHON_MPI4PY_INTERFACE\" to enable it)')\n")
+file(WRITE "${CoSimIOMPIInitFile}" "raise Exception('CoSimIO was compiled without MPI support! (use \"CO_SIM_IO_BUILD_MPI\" to enable it)')\n")
+file(WRITE "${mpi4pyInterfaceInitFile}" "raise Exception('The mpi4py interface was not compiled! (use \"CO_SIM_IO_BUILD_PYTHON_MPI4PY_INTERFACE\" to enable it)')\n")
 
 if (CO_SIM_IO_BUILD_MPI)
     pybind11_add_module(PyCoSimIOMPI co_sim_io_python_mpi.cpp)
 
     target_link_libraries( PyCoSimIOMPI PRIVATE co_sim_io co_sim_io_mpi )
 
-    install(TARGETS PyCoSimIOMPI DESTINATION bin)
-    file(WRITE ${CoSimIOMPIInitFile} "from PyCoSimIOMPI import *\n")
+    install(TARGETS PyCoSimIOMPI
+            LIBRARY DESTINATION libs
+            ARCHIVE DESTINATION libs
+            RUNTIME DESTINATION bin)
+    set_target_properties(PyCoSimIOMPI PROPERTIES INSTALL_RPATH "$ORIGIN")
+    file(WRITE "${CoSimIOMPIInitFile}" "from PyCoSimIOMPI import *\n")
 
     OPTION ( CO_SIM_IO_BUILD_PYTHON_MPI4PY_INTERFACE "Building the interface to mpi4py MPI communicators" OFF )
     if (CO_SIM_IO_BUILD_PYTHON_MPI4PY_INTERFACE)
         message("Building the interface to mpi4py MPI communicators")
         pybind11_add_module(PyCoSimIOMPI_mpi4pyInterface mpi4py_interface.cpp)
         target_link_libraries( PyCoSimIOMPI_mpi4pyInterface PRIVATE ${MPI_LIBRARIES} )
-        install(TARGETS PyCoSimIOMPI_mpi4pyInterface DESTINATION bin)
-        file(WRITE ${mpi4pyInterfaceInitFile} "from PyCoSimIOMPI_mpi4pyInterface import *\n")
+        install(TARGETS PyCoSimIOMPI_mpi4pyInterface
+                LIBRARY DESTINATION libs
+                ARCHIVE DESTINATION libs
+                RUNTIME DESTINATION bin)
+        set_target_properties(PyCoSimIOMPI_mpi4pyInterface PROPERTIES INSTALL_RPATH "$ORIGIN")
+        file(WRITE "${mpi4pyInterfaceInitFile}" "from PyCoSimIOMPI_mpi4pyInterface import *\n")
     endif()
 endif()
diff --git a/tests/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
index e6e07a9b..3e17be7c 100644
--- a/tests/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ set_target_properties(co_sim_io_tests PROPERTIES
     CXX_STANDARD 11
     CXX_STANDARD_REQUIRED YES
     CXX_EXTENSIONS NO
+    INSTALL_RPATH "$ORIGIN/../libs"
 )
 
 doctest_discover_tests(co_sim_io_tests TEST_PREFIX "cpp_" WORKING_DIRECTORY $<TARGET_FILE_DIR:co_sim_io>)
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ if (CO_SIM_IO_BUILD_MPI)
         CXX_STANDARD 11
         CXX_STANDARD_REQUIRED YES
         CXX_EXTENSIONS NO
+        INSTALL_RPATH "$ORIGIN/../libs"
     )
 
     doctest_discover_tests(co_sim_io_mpi_tests TEST_PREFIX "cpp_mpi_" WORKING_DIRECTORY $<TARGET_FILE_DIR:co_sim_io_mpi> TEST_EXECUTOR mpiexec TEST_EXECUTOR_ARGS -np 4)
@@ -44,6 +46,7 @@ function(add_cpp_executable TEST_SOURCE_FILE)
     add_executable(${TEST_NAME} ${TEST_SOURCE_FILE})
     target_link_libraries(${TEST_NAME} co_sim_io)
     install(TARGETS ${TEST_NAME} DESTINATION "bin/tests_cpp")
+    set_target_properties(${TEST_NAME} PROPERTIES INSTALL_RPATH "$ORIGIN/../../libs")
 endfunction()
 
 file(GLOB cpp_test_files "integration_tutorials/cpp/*.cpp")
@@ -96,6 +99,7 @@ if (CO_SIM_IO_BUILD_MPI)
         add_executable(${TEST_NAME} ${TEST_SOURCE_FILE})
         target_link_libraries(${TEST_NAME} co_sim_io_mpi)
         install(TARGETS ${TEST_NAME} DESTINATION "bin/tests_cpp_mpi")
+        set_target_properties(${TEST_NAME} PROPERTIES INSTALL_RPATH "$ORIGIN/../../libs")
     endfunction()
 
     file(GLOB cpp_mpi_test_files "integration_tutorials/cpp/mpi/*.cpp")
@@ -120,6 +124,7 @@ if(CO_SIM_IO_BUILD_C)
         target_link_libraries(${TEST_NAME} co_sim_io_c)
         add_test(${TEST_NAME} ${TEST_NAME})
         install(TARGETS ${TEST_NAME} DESTINATION "bin/tests_c")
+        set_target_properties(${TEST_NAME} PROPERTIES INSTALL_RPATH "$ORIGIN/../../libs")
     endfunction()
 
     function(add_c_executable TEST_SOURCE_FILE)
@@ -129,6 +134,7 @@ if(CO_SIM_IO_BUILD_C)
         add_executable(${TEST_NAME} ${TEST_SOURCE_FILE})
         target_link_libraries(${TEST_NAME} co_sim_io_c)
         install(TARGETS ${TEST_NAME} DESTINATION "bin/tests_c")
+        set_target_properties(${TEST_NAME} PROPERTIES INSTALL_RPATH "$ORIGIN/../../libs")
     endfunction()
 
     file(GLOB c_test_files
@@ -162,6 +168,7 @@ if(CO_SIM_IO_BUILD_C)
             add_executable(${TEST_NAME} ${TEST_SOURCE_FILE})
             target_link_libraries(${TEST_NAME} co_sim_io_c_mpi)
             install(TARGETS ${TEST_NAME} DESTINATION "bin/tests_c_mpi")
+            set_target_properties(${TEST_NAME} PROPERTIES INSTALL_RPATH "$ORIGIN/../../libs")
         endfunction()
 
         function(add_c_mpi_test TEST_SOURCE_FILE)
@@ -172,6 +179,7 @@ if(CO_SIM_IO_BUILD_C)
             target_link_libraries(${TEST_NAME} co_sim_io_c_mpi)
             add_test(NAME ${TEST_NAME} COMMAND mpiexec -np 4 ${TEST_NAME})
             install(TARGETS ${TEST_NAME} DESTINATION "bin/tests_c_mpi")
+            set_target_properties(${TEST_NAME} PROPERTIES INSTALL_RPATH "$ORIGIN/../../libs")
         endfunction()
 
         file(GLOB c_mpi_test_files "co_sim_io/c/mpi/*.c")
@@ -208,6 +216,7 @@ if(CO_SIM_IO_BUILD_FORTRAN)
         target_link_libraries(${TEST_NAME} co_sim_io_fortran)
         add_test(${TEST_NAME} ${TEST_NAME})
         install(TARGETS ${TEST_NAME} DESTINATION "bin/tests_fortran")
+        set_target_properties(${TEST_NAME} PROPERTIES INSTALL_RPATH "$ORIGIN/../../libs")
     endfunction()
 
     function(add_fortran_executable TEST_SOURCE_FILE)
@@ -217,6 +226,7 @@ if(CO_SIM_IO_BUILD_FORTRAN)
         add_executable(${TEST_NAME} ${TEST_SOURCE_FILE})
         target_link_libraries(${TEST_NAME} co_sim_io_fortran)
         install(TARGETS ${TEST_NAME} DESTINATION "bin/tests_fortran")
+        set_target_properties(${TEST_NAME} PROPERTIES INSTALL_RPATH "$ORIGIN/../../libs")
     endfunction()
 
     file(GLOB fortran_test_files