"The parties will pool their respective technical knowledge and expertise in order to jointly foster research, development and innovation activities for the nuclear sector," the three partners said in a statement on Tuesday.
Framatome is owned by EDF Group, with an 80.5% share, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (7011.T), opens new tab, with the remaining 19.5%.
Nuclear energy is a controversial issue in Italy where nuclear-fired power plants are banned following referendums in 1987 and 2011.
Italy's right-wing government, however, supports a return to nuclear power and Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin has recently appointed a legal expert to study whether power stations based on new nuclear technology may be exempted from the ban.
In its energy and climate plan (PNIEC), Rome has envisaged a role for nuclear energy, estimating the power source could cover up to 11% of domestic energy demand in 2050.
The energy ministry is also hosting regular meetings of a committee of industrial experts aimed at supporting an Italian supply chain for foreign nuclear stations and being ready to re-introduce the technology if the ban is overturned.
"A contribution from nuclear energy in our energy mix would help Italy a lot in meeting the net zero target by 2050," Pichetto said on the sidelines of a meeting of energy ministers from Group of Seven countries in April.
At that time, Pichetto expressed support for the development of so-called small nuclear reactors, which nuclear advocates say could reduce costs and help decarbonise highly polluting sectors such as steel production.
Italy in April joined a European industrial alliance to develop such reactors.
