> Unfortunately the problem is that University's promote professors based on publications.

Not just that. At some universities professors can lose their jobs if they don't get enough funding within a year.

“I am of the opinion that you are struggling to fulfil the metrics of a Professorial post at Imperial College which include maintaining established funding in a programme of research with an attributable share of research spend of £200k p.a and must now start to give serious consideration as to whether you are performing at the expected level of a Professor at Imperial College."

http://www.dcscience.net/2014/12/23/some-experiences-of-life...