A carrier element for a semiconductor chip and in particular for incorporation into smart cards. The carrier element has an encapsulation composition protecting the semiconductor chip. The carrier element connections are disposed on one of the main surfaces of the encapsulation composition along only two opposite edges. They are made of a conductive material and have a reduced thickness at the ends facing one another, the cross section having a step only on one side. The semiconductor chip is disposed on the connections in a region of the section of reduced thickness and is mechanically connected to the connections.