James's contribution to ribbon development (4)
I believe the answer is:
bond
'james's' is the definition.
(James Bond is a fictional spy)
'contribution to ribbon development' is the wordplay.
'contribution to' indicates a hidden word.
'BOND' is hidden in the letters of 'ribbon development'.
(Other definitions for bond that I've seen before include "Written promise" , "Fictional agent; link" , "Tie; agent" , "Tie - 007" , "Join, double 'O' seven" .)