Tech company needs time to make program (6)
I believe the answer is:
applet
'program' is the definition.
'tech company needs time' is the wordplay.
'tech company' becomes 'apple'.
'needs' says to put letters next to each other.
'time' becomes 't'.
'apple'+'t'='APPLET'
'to make' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for applet that I've seen before include "limited application of computing" , "Java program" , "modest programme" , "Computer application, sounds like small fruit" .)