diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index c26bbf200a..07fcb62355 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ project(ortools-meta NONE)
 
 include(CTest)
 if(UNIX)
-  # Needed to create python packagefrom the build directory
+  # Needed to create python package from the build directory
 	set(CMAKE_BUILD_WITH_INSTALL_RPATH TRUE)
 	option(BUILD_SHARED_LIBS "Build shared libraries(.so)." ON)
 elseif(MSVC)
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ message(STATUS "Build Python Binding: ${BUILD_PYTHON}")
 message(STATUS "Build Java Binding: ${BUILD_JAVA}")
 message(STATUS "Build CSharp Binding: ${BUILD_CSHARP}")
 
-# Build Dependencies
+# Add OR Tools Dependencies as CMake subproject if missing
 add_subdirectory(cmake/external)
 
 include(cpp)
diff --git a/cmake/cpp.cmake b/cmake/cpp.cmake
index e2c2fad0e3..1cc6ba7dc9 100644
--- a/cmake/cpp.cmake
+++ b/cmake/cpp.cmake
@@ -52,12 +52,6 @@ add_definitions(-DUSE_GLOP -DUSE_BOP -DUSE_CBC -DUSE_CLP)
 set(CMAKE_THREAD_PREFER_PTHREAD TRUE)
 find_package(Threads REQUIRED)
 
-find_package(ZLIB REQUIRED)
-find_package(Protobuf REQUIRED)
-find_package(gflags REQUIRED)
-find_package(glog REQUIRED)
-find_package(Cbc REQUIRED)
-
 # Main Target
 if(BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
 	add_library(${PROJECT_NAME} SHARED "")
diff --git a/cmake/external/CMakeLists.txt b/cmake/external/CMakeLists.txt
index 7f212559a6..9c96a0f1dc 100644
--- a/cmake/external/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/cmake/external/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 list(APPEND CMAKE_MODULE_PATH "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}")
 set(CMAKE_POSITION_INDEPENDENT_CODE ON)
 
-# Force dependencies to be static
+# Force dependencies to be built as static
 set(BUILD_SHARED_BCKP ${BUILD_SHARED_LIBS})
 set(BUILD_SHARED_LIBS OFF)
 
@@ -44,138 +44,153 @@ endif()
 ##############
 ##  GFLAGS  ##
 ##############
-message(STATUS "Subproject: Gflag...")
-# Download and unpack gflags at configure time
-configure_file(
-	${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/gflags.CMakeLists.txt
-	${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/gflags-download/CMakeLists.txt)
-execute_process(COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -G "${CMAKE_GENERATOR}" .
-  RESULT_VARIABLE result
-  WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/gflags-download)
-if(result)
-  message(FATAL_ERROR "CMake step for gflags failed: ${result}")
-endif()
-execute_process(COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} --build .
-  RESULT_VARIABLE result
-  WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/gflags-download)
-if(result)
-  message(FATAL_ERROR "Build step for gflags failed: ${result}")
-endif()
+if(NOT TARGET gflags::gflags)
+	message(STATUS "Target gflags::gflags not found.")
+	message(STATUS "Adding CMake Subproject: Gflag...")
+	# Download and unpack gflags at configure time
+	configure_file(
+		${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/gflags.CMakeLists.txt
+		${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/gflags-download/CMakeLists.txt)
+	execute_process(COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -G "${CMAKE_GENERATOR}" .
+		RESULT_VARIABLE result
+		WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/gflags-download)
+	if(result)
+		message(FATAL_ERROR "CMake step for gflags failed: ${result}")
+	endif()
+	execute_process(COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} --build .
+		RESULT_VARIABLE result
+		WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/gflags-download)
+	if(result)
+		message(FATAL_ERROR "Build step for gflags failed: ${result}")
+	endif()
 
-set(GFLAGS_NAMESPACE "gflags")
-set(GFLAGS_INSTALL_STATIC_LIBS ON)
-set(GFLAGS_INSTALL_HEADERS ON)
-#set(GFLAGS_IS_SUBPROJECT TRUE)
-add_subdirectory(
-	${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/gflags-src
-	${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/gflags-build)
-message(STATUS "Subproject: Gflag...DONE")
+	set(GFLAGS_NAMESPACE "gflags")
+	set(GFLAGS_INSTALL_STATIC_LIBS ON)
+	set(GFLAGS_INSTALL_HEADERS ON)
+	#set(GFLAGS_IS_SUBPROJECT TRUE)
+	add_subdirectory(
+		${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/gflags-src
+		${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/gflags-build)
+	message(STATUS "Adding CMake Subproject: Gflag...DONE")
+endif()
 
 ############
 ##  GLOG  ##
 ############
-message(STATUS "Subproject: Glog...")
-# Download and unpack glog at configure time
-configure_file(
-	${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/glog.CMakeLists.txt
-	${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/glog-download/CMakeLists.txt)
-execute_process(COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -G "${CMAKE_GENERATOR}" .
-  RESULT_VARIABLE result
-  WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/glog-download)
-if(result)
-  message(FATAL_ERROR "CMake step for glog failed: ${result}")
-endif()
-execute_process(COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} --build .
-  RESULT_VARIABLE result
-  WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/glog-download)
-if(result)
-  message(FATAL_ERROR "Build step for glog failed: ${result}")
-endif()
+if(NOT TARGET glog::glog)
+	message(STATUS "Target glog::glog not found.")
+	message(STATUS "Adding CMake Subproject: Glog...")
+	# Download and unpack glog at configure time
+	configure_file(
+		${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/glog.CMakeLists.txt
+		${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/glog-download/CMakeLists.txt)
+	execute_process(COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -G "${CMAKE_GENERATOR}" .
+		RESULT_VARIABLE result
+		WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/glog-download)
+	if(result)
+		message(FATAL_ERROR "CMake step for glog failed: ${result}")
+	endif()
+	execute_process(COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} --build .
+		RESULT_VARIABLE result
+		WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/glog-download)
+	if(result)
+		message(FATAL_ERROR "Build step for glog failed: ${result}")
+	endif()
 
-set(gflags_NAMESPACE "gflags" CACHE INTERNAL "Namespace for gflags")
-add_subdirectory(
-	${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/glog-src
-	${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/glog-build)
-message(STATUS "Subproject: Glog...DONE")
+	set(gflags_NAMESPACE "gflags" CACHE INTERNAL "Namespace for gflags")
+	add_subdirectory(
+		${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/glog-src
+		${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/glog-build)
+	message(STATUS "Adding CMake Subproject: Glog...DONE")
+endif()
 
 ############
 ##  ZLIB  ##
 ############
-message(STATUS "Subproject: ZLIB...")
-# Download and unpack zlib at configure time
-configure_file(
-	${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/zlib.CMakeLists.txt
-	${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/zlib-download/CMakeLists.txt)
-execute_process(COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -G "${CMAKE_GENERATOR}" .
-  RESULT_VARIABLE result
-  WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/zlib-download)
-if(result)
-  message(FATAL_ERROR "CMake step for zlib failed: ${result}")
-endif()
-execute_process(COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} --build .
-  RESULT_VARIABLE result
-  WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/zlib-download)
-if(result)
-  message(FATAL_ERROR "Build step for zlib failed: ${result}")
-endif()
+if(NOT TARGET ZLIB::ZLIB)
+	message(STATUS "Target ZLIB::ZLIB not found.")
+	message(STATUS "Adding CMake Subproject: ZLIB...")
+	# Download and unpack zlib at configure time
+	configure_file(
+		${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/zlib.CMakeLists.txt
+		${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/zlib-download/CMakeLists.txt)
+	execute_process(COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -G "${CMAKE_GENERATOR}" .
+		RESULT_VARIABLE result
+		WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/zlib-download)
+	if(result)
+		message(FATAL_ERROR "CMake step for zlib failed: ${result}")
+	endif()
+	execute_process(COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} --build .
+		RESULT_VARIABLE result
+		WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/zlib-download)
+	if(result)
+		message(FATAL_ERROR "Build step for zlib failed: ${result}")
+	endif()
 
-add_subdirectory(
-	${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/zlib-src
-	${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/zlib-build)
-message(STATUS "Subproject: ZLIB...DONE")
+	add_subdirectory(
+		${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/zlib-src
+		${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/zlib-build)
+	message(STATUS "Adding CMake Subproject: ZLIB...DONE")
+endif()
 
 ################
 ##  PROTOBUF  ##
 ################
-message(STATUS "Subproject: Protobuf...")
-# Download and unpack protobuf at configure time
-configure_file(
-	${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/protobuf.CMakeLists.txt
-	${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-download/CMakeLists.txt)
-execute_process(COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -G "${CMAKE_GENERATOR}" .
-  RESULT_VARIABLE result
-  WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-download )
-if(result)
-  message(FATAL_ERROR "CMake step for protobuf failed: ${result}")
-endif()
-execute_process(COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} --build .
-  RESULT_VARIABLE result
-  WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-download )
-if(result)
-  message(FATAL_ERROR "Build step for protobuf failed: ${result}")
+if(NOT TARGET protobuf::libprotobuf OR NOT TARGET protobuf::protoc)
+	message(STATUS "Target protobuf::libprotobuf or protobuf::protoc not found.")
+	message(STATUS "Adding CMake Subproject: Protobuf...")
+	# Download and unpack protobuf at configure time
+	configure_file(
+		${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/protobuf.CMakeLists.txt
+		${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-download/CMakeLists.txt)
+	execute_process(COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -G "${CMAKE_GENERATOR}" .
+		RESULT_VARIABLE result
+		WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-download )
+	if(result)
+		message(FATAL_ERROR "CMake step for protobuf failed: ${result}")
+	endif()
+	execute_process(COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} --build .
+		RESULT_VARIABLE result
+		WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-download )
+	if(result)
+		message(FATAL_ERROR "Build step for protobuf failed: ${result}")
+	endif()
+
+	set(protobuf_BUILD_TESTS OFF CACHE INTERNAL "Disable Protobuf tests")
+	add_subdirectory(
+		${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-src/cmake
+		${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-build)
+	message(STATUS "Adding CMake Subproject: Protobuf...DONE")
 endif()
 
-set(protobuf_BUILD_TESTS OFF CACHE INTERNAL "Disable Protobuf tests")
-add_subdirectory(
-	${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-src/cmake
-	${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-build)
-message(STATUS "Subproject: Protobuf...DONE")
+###########
+##  CBC  ##
+###########
+if(NOT TARGET Cbc::CbcSolver OR NOT TARGET Cbc::ClpSolver)
+	message(STATUS "Target Cbc::CbcSolver or Cbc::ClpSolver not found.")
+	message(STATUS "Adding CMake Subproject: Cbc...")
+	# Download and unpack cbc at configure time
+	configure_file(
+		${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/cbc.CMakeLists.txt
+		${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/cbc-download/CMakeLists.txt)
+	execute_process(COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -G "${CMAKE_GENERATOR}" .
+		RESULT_VARIABLE result
+		WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/cbc-download)
+	if(result)
+		message(FATAL_ERROR "CMake step for cbc failed: ${result}")
+	endif()
+	execute_process(COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} --build .
+		RESULT_VARIABLE result
+		WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/cbc-download)
+	if(result)
+		message(FATAL_ERROR "Build step for cbc failed: ${result}")
+	endif()
 
-###################
-##  COIN-OR:CBC  ##
-###################
-message(STATUS "Subproject: COIN-OR:Cbc...")
-# Download and unpack cbc at configure time
-configure_file(
-	${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/cbc.CMakeLists.txt
-	${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/cbc-download/CMakeLists.txt)
-execute_process(COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -G "${CMAKE_GENERATOR}" .
-  RESULT_VARIABLE result
-  WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/cbc-download)
-if(result)
-  message(FATAL_ERROR "CMake step for cbc failed: ${result}")
+	add_subdirectory(
+		${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/cbc-src
+		${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/cbc-build)
+	message(STATUS "Adding CMake Subproject: Cbc...DONE")
 endif()
-execute_process(COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} --build .
-  RESULT_VARIABLE result
-  WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/cbc-download)
-if(result)
-  message(FATAL_ERROR "Build step for cbc failed: ${result}")
-endif()
-
-add_subdirectory(
-	${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/cbc-src
-	${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/cbc-build)
-message(STATUS "Subproject: COIN-OR:Cbc...DONE")
 
 # Reapply previous state
 set(BUILD_SHARED_LIBS ${BUILD_SHARED_BCKP})