diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index d0fadfe7..62eba9b0 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -382,7 +382,10 @@ add_subdirectory( "source/App/vvencapp" )
 add_subdirectory( "source/App/vvencFFapp" )
 add_subdirectory( "test/vvenclibtest" )
 add_subdirectory( "test/vvencinterfacetest" )
-add_subdirectory( "test/vvenc_unit_test" )
+
+if( NOT BUILD_SHARED_LIBS )
+  add_subdirectory( "test/vvenc_unit_test" )
+endif()
 
 include( cmake/modules/vvencTests.cmake )
 
diff --git a/test/vvenc_unit_test/CMakeLists.txt b/test/vvenc_unit_test/CMakeLists.txt
index 0df22f51..b3c3e7ce 100644
--- a/test/vvenc_unit_test/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/test/vvenc_unit_test/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,9 +1,18 @@
+# executable
 set( EXE_NAME vvenc_unit_test )
 
+# get source files
 file( GLOB SRC_FILES CONFIGURE_DEPENDS "*.cpp" )
+# get include files
 file( GLOB INC_FILES CONFIGURE_DEPENDS "*.h" )
 
-add_executable( ${EXE_NAME} ${SRC_FILES} ${INC_FILES} )
+# set resource file for MSVC compilers
+if( MSVC )
+  set( RESOURCE_FILE ${EXE_NAME}.rc )
+endif()
+
+# add executable
+add_executable( ${EXE_NAME} ${SRC_FILES} ${INC_FILES} ${RESOURCE_FILE} )
 set_target_properties( ${EXE_NAME} PROPERTIES RELEASE_POSTFIX        "${CMAKE_RELEASE_POSTFIX}" )
 set_target_properties( ${EXE_NAME} PROPERTIES DEBUG_POSTFIX          "${CMAKE_DEBUG_POSTFIX}" )
 set_target_properties( ${EXE_NAME} PROPERTIES RELWITHDEBINFO_POSTFIX "${CMAKE_RELWITHDEBINFO_POSTFIX}" )
@@ -19,9 +28,10 @@ target_compile_options( ${EXE_NAME} PRIVATE $<$<OR:$<CXX_COMPILER_ID:Clang>,$<CX
 
 target_include_directories( ${EXE_NAME} PRIVATE ${VVENC_LIB_DIR} )
 target_link_libraries( ${EXE_NAME} Threads::Threads vvenc )
-
-# Example: place header files in different folders
+# example: place header files in different folders
 source_group( "Header Files"   FILES ${INC_FILES} )
+source_group( "Resource Files" FILES ${RESOURCE_FILE} )
+
 
-# Set the folder where to place the projects
+# set the folder where to place the projects
 set_target_properties( ${EXE_NAME}  PROPERTIES FOLDER test )
diff --git a/test/vvenc_unit_test/resource.h b/test/vvenc_unit_test/resource.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c5517c1e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/vvenc_unit_test/resource.h
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+/* -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+The copyright in this software is being made available under the Clear BSD
+License, included below. No patent rights, trademark rights and/or 
+other Intellectual Property Rights other than the copyrights concerning 
+the Software are granted under this license.
+
+The Clear BSD License
+
+Copyright (c) 2019-2024, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. & The VVenC Authors.
+All rights reserved.
+
+Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification,
+are permitted (subject to the limitations in the disclaimer below) provided that
+the following conditions are met:
+
+     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice,
+     this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+
+     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+     notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+     documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+
+     * Neither the name of the copyright holder nor the names of its
+     contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this
+     software without specific prior written permission.
+
+NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED LICENSES TO ANY PARTY'S PATENT RIGHTS ARE GRANTED BY
+THIS LICENSE. THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND
+CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A
+PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR
+CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL,
+EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
+PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR
+BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER
+IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
+ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
+POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+
+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+/**
+  \ingroup vvenc_unit_test
+  \file    /vvenc_unit_test/resource.h
+*/
+
+//{{NO_DEPENDENCIES}}
+// Microsoft Visual C++ generated include file.
+// Used by vvenc_unit_test.rc
+
+// Next default values for new objects
+//
+#ifdef APSTUDIO_INVOKED
+#  ifndef APSTUDIO_READONLY_SYMBOLS
+#    define _APS_NEXT_RESOURCE_VALUE 101
+#    define _APS_NEXT_COMMAND_VALUE 40001
+#    define _APS_NEXT_CONTROL_VALUE 1001
+#    define _APS_NEXT_SYMED_VALUE 101
+#  endif
+#endif
diff --git a/test/vvenc_unit_test/resource_version.h b/test/vvenc_unit_test/resource_version.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a9364c1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/vvenc_unit_test/resource_version.h
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+/* -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+The copyright in this software is being made available under the Clear BSD
+License, included below. No patent rights, trademark rights and/or 
+other Intellectual Property Rights other than the copyrights concerning 
+the Software are granted under this license.
+
+The Clear BSD License
+
+Copyright (c) 2019-2024, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. & The VVenC Authors.
+All rights reserved.
+
+Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification,
+are permitted (subject to the limitations in the disclaimer below) provided that
+the following conditions are met:
+
+     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice,
+     this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+
+     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+     notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+     documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+
+     * Neither the name of the copyright holder nor the names of its
+     contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this
+     software without specific prior written permission.
+
+NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED LICENSES TO ANY PARTY'S PATENT RIGHTS ARE GRANTED BY
+THIS LICENSE. THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND
+CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A
+PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR
+CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL,
+EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
+PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR
+BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER
+IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
+ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
+POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+
+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+#if !defined( resource_version_h )
+#  define resource_version_h
+
+// pick up top level version information.
+#  include "vvenc/version.h"
+
+#  define VS_FILE_VERSION VVENC_VS_VERSION
+#  define VS_FILE_VERSION_STR VVENC_VS_VERSION_STR
+
+#endif
diff --git a/test/vvenc_unit_test/vvenc_unit_test.rc b/test/vvenc_unit_test/vvenc_unit_test.rc
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9bdf75ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/vvenc_unit_test/vvenc_unit_test.rc
@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+/* -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+The copyright in this software is being made available under the Clear BSD
+License, included below. No patent rights, trademark rights and/or 
+other Intellectual Property Rights other than the copyrights concerning 
+the Software are granted under this license.
+
+The Clear BSD License
+
+Copyright (c) 2019-2024, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. & The VVenC Authors.
+All rights reserved.
+
+Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification,
+are permitted (subject to the limitations in the disclaimer below) provided that
+the following conditions are met:
+
+     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice,
+     this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+
+     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+     notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+     documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+
+     * Neither the name of the copyright holder nor the names of its
+     contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this
+     software without specific prior written permission.
+
+NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED LICENSES TO ANY PARTY'S PATENT RIGHTS ARE GRANTED BY
+THIS LICENSE. THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND
+CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A
+PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR
+CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL,
+EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
+PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR
+BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER
+IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
+ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
+POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+
+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+// Microsoft Visual C++ generated resource script.
+//
+#pragma code_page(65001)
+
+#include "resource.h"
+#include "resource_version.h"
+
+#define APSTUDIO_READONLY_SYMBOLS
+/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//
+// Generated from the TEXTINCLUDE 2 resource.
+//
+#include "winres.h"
+
+/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+#undef APSTUDIO_READONLY_SYMBOLS
+
+/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+// Neutral (Default) (unknown sub-lang: 0x8) resources
+
+#if !defined(AFX_RESOURCE_DLL) || defined(AFX_TARG_ZZZ)
+LANGUAGE LANG_NEUTRAL, 0x8
+
+/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//
+// Version
+//
+
+VS_VERSION_INFO VERSIONINFO
+ FILEVERSION VS_FILE_VERSION
+ PRODUCTVERSION VS_FILE_VERSION
+ FILEFLAGSMASK 0x3fL
+#ifdef _DEBUG
+ FILEFLAGS 0x1L
+#else
+ FILEFLAGS 0x0L
+#endif
+ FILEOS 0x40004L
+ FILETYPE 0x1L
+ FILESUBTYPE 0x0L
+BEGIN
+    BLOCK "StringFileInfo"
+    BEGIN
+        BLOCK "200004b0"
+        BEGIN
+            VALUE "CompanyName", "Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute"
+            VALUE "FileDescription", "vvenc_unit_test Application"
+            VALUE "FileVersion", VS_FILE_VERSION_STR
+            VALUE "InternalName", "vvenc_unit_test.exe"
+            VALUE "LegalCopyright", "(c) Copyright (2019-2023) Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V"
+            VALUE "OriginalFilename", "vvenc_unit_test.exe"
+            VALUE "ProductName", "vvenc_unit_test"
+            VALUE "ProductVersion", VS_FILE_VERSION_STR
+        END
+    END
+    BLOCK "VarFileInfo"
+    BEGIN
+        VALUE "Translation", 0x2000, 1200
+    END
+END
+
+#endif    // Neutral (Default) (unknown sub-lang: 0x8) resources
+/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+
+
+/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+// English (United States) resources
+
+#if !defined(AFX_RESOURCE_DLL) || defined(AFX_TARG_ENU)
+LANGUAGE LANG_ENGLISH, SUBLANG_ENGLISH_US
+
+#ifdef APSTUDIO_INVOKED
+/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//
+// TEXTINCLUDE
+//
+
+1 TEXTINCLUDE 
+BEGIN
+    "resource.h\0"
+END
+
+2 TEXTINCLUDE 
+BEGIN
+    "#include ""winres.h""\r\n"
+    "\0"
+END
+
+3 TEXTINCLUDE 
+BEGIN
+    "\r\n"
+    "\0"
+END
+
+#endif    // APSTUDIO_INVOKED
+
+#endif    // English (United States) resources
+/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+
+
+
+#ifndef APSTUDIO_INVOKED
+/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//
+// Generated from the TEXTINCLUDE 3 resource.
+//
+
+
+/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+#endif    // not APSTUDIO_INVOKED
+